MPbGD Part 46 posted on pg 150 on 16/1/12 - Page 93

Part 44

As soon as he lifted his lips, she hid her face in his neck. Her heart was racing. He hugged her tight and kissed her temple. After a minute or so when her heartbeat slowed down she shifted back and he too loosened his grip. She continued looking down at the floor. He lifted her face by the chin and smiling at her asked "Shall we go?" She smiled back shyly and nodded. He put a shawl around her shoulder, picked up the camera and with the other arm around her waist, took her out.

Handing over the key at the reception, they asked for directions to the lake. It was very pleasant outside and they walked hand in hand, towards the lake. After walking for some time, they sat down on a bench watching the lake. It was serene and peaceful. Seeing people boating in the lake, Armaan also went and bought tickets. They could take a boat and paddle by themselves or they could hire a boat with a boatman. Armaan opted for the latter, as he didn't want to tire her by making her paddle.

There was a gentle breeze as they set out. Armaan asked the boatman to click snaps of them together, taking different poses with her. "He must be laughing seeing a grey haired couple behaving like newly married ones" she whispered in her athaan's ears. "Where is the law that grey haired couples can't koochikoo?" he asked in reply. She just shook her head with a smile.

As the sun set, the view was mind-blowing. But then it suddenly started getting very cold. They were at the other end of the lake now. Seeing him rub his hands together, she threw one end of the shawl over his shoulder and keeping the other end around herself. He pulled her closer so that both of them could be covered by it. On his signaling the boatman clicked some more pics.

After the boat ride they slowly walked back to the hotel. As they walked hand in hand, Armaan asked her "Are you hungry?" and even before she could reply he called up the restaurant manager to find out if their food was ready. Then turning towards her he said "The manager says our food is ready. Shall we have the food and then go to the room? Then we need not come down again." She nodded in assent.

They were first served a bowl of hot vegetable soup with plenty of pepper. It felt very good having hot soup in the cold weather. That was followed by some khichdi and Sambhar. Armaan requested them to send two cups of warm milk later. They passed some shops while walking to the lift and she could see beautiful jewellery, dresses and cosmetics exhibited in the windows. But she didn't stop anywhere. Just as she entered the lift, Armaan handed her the keys saying "You go up, I'll be there in a few minutes."

Before she could question him further, the lift door had closed. She went to their room and sat on the bed thinking about all that passed in the evening. She called Suja and gave her an edited account of it. But from her voice her daughter could make out that her amma was really happy. She really deserves it, she thought to herself and knew it was all her appa's doing.

She was talking to Priyam and went to open the door when Armaan knocked. He held a packet in his hand. Hearing that her grandpa had come Priyam wanted to talk to him. It was a good 5 minutes before he put down the phone. In the meantime, the waiter brought the milk. Riddhima once again answered the door and took the tray. When she put it down and looked at Armaan, she saw his flushed face and dimpled smile. She understood that Suja must be teasing him and pulling his leg.

"What is it?" she asked when he handed the packet. "Open and see," was all he said. When she opened it she saw a satin and lace night gown in bright red color.

R: For whom is this?

A: How is it?

R: Very pretty.

A: Like it?

R: Of course.

A: Then go and change.

She was flabbergasted. "What! Are you crazy?" Armaan was amused seeing her expression and to tease her said "Not yet. But seeing you in it I might," Before he could complete she said "That's why you are not going to see me in it. I can't handle a crazy person." Going near her, putting his arms around her, he winked at her and making a baby face said "Please won't you try it for my sake?"

R: You should got this for me and asked me this question 29 years ago.

But seeing his pleading expression, she went into the washroom to try it on. When she wore it and looked in the mirror she could only see her face. So hesitantly she came out. His mouth that had dropped open up to his knees, said it all. There was no need for words. As she turned around to go into the bathroom again, he pulled her back asking "Where are you going?"

R: To change.

A: Please, please leave it on just for a little while longer.

In his mind he thought I won't let it remain on you for very long. Unable to break his plead she went to sit on the bed. But as she passed by the mirror, she was shocked to see her own image. It was clinging to her emphasizing her curves. Gone was the grandma Riddhima. This was the Riddhima on honeymoon. She thought it better to lie down and cover herself.

The next instant he was beside her, thanking his stars that he didn't have to coax her to bed so early. When he was about to lay down beside her she asked "My medicine?" "Yes, yes," he stammered and gave her her medicines along with the milk which had become cold by now. When he came to bed having finished his milk and having changed into his night clothes, she was surfing the TV to find her favourite channel, which telecast old music videos.

That day lady luck was truly on Armaan's side, because when she found the channel the song being played was "Aayiram iruvugal vandhalum iduthan unakku mudal iravu". A song in which a girl is teasing her newlywed friend, who was sitting on the flower-decked bed, that even though there are going to be thousands of nights in your life, this is your first night and even though you may have a thousand relatives, your husband is the most important one. When she tried to change the channel he stopped her saying "Don't change it, I like this song very much." That was enough to bring on the blush.

He had put off all the lights and the light coming from the TV was the only light in the room. Slowly he got himself into her blanket and was busy showering kisses on her neck, nibbling her ears and when his hands made their way into her night dress, he could feel her heart thudding. Soon he took the remote from her hand, without her even realizing it. and switched off the TV.

In the next few minutes the night gown was on the floor along with a heap of other clothes. The only sounds heard were some moans and little later the opening and closing of the drawer, followed by a rip of paper.

Riddhima opened her eyes, feeling something heavy on herself. The whole room was still dark except for a streak of light entering from the small slit like opening between the curtains. The heavy weight was her athaan who was sprawled over her, trapping her under him. He was sleeping peacefully. Seeing his calm face, the previous night's happenings came to her mind. How he had gently guided her and taken her to the heights of ecstasy, getting over the initial pain. The thought itself sent a shiver through her.

She wanted to climb out of bed and get dressed. But when she tried to wriggle out of his hold, he only "tch, tch"ed, pulled her closer and cuddled up to her even more. Desperately she tried to at least pick up the discarded night gown and slip it on, but she was unsuccessful. She only succeeded in waking him up in the process.

For a minute he seemed disoriented and looked at her in a daze. The next second his face lit up like a thousand watts bulb and his trade mark dimpled smile adorned his face. She closed his eyes with a palm and tried to get up, but he wouldn't let her. When she pleaded "Athaan please" he replied "last night's lessons aren't over yet. The good morning kiss will conclude it. Give me a sweet kiss and I'll let you go."

Though she was feeling very awkward she knew he wouldn't relent without her fulfilling his wish. So without removing her palm from over his eyes, she gently leaned over and placed a light kiss on his lips. He immediately pulled her face towards him and kissed her thoroughly. And then in keeping with his promise, moved himself away from her. He was aware he needed to give her time and space to get used to this new relationship. She quickly picked the gown, slipped it over her head and rushed into the washroom.

He got up, dressed himself and went to the closet to pick out a saree for her. He saw the pretty maroon crepe silk saree, which he had bought for her, hanging there. At once he came up with a plan to make her feel comfortable. He picked up the matching petticoat and other inner clothings and knocking on the door saying "Riddhima, take your clothes. She opened the door a wee bit and put her hand out for them. She was glad he didn't play some silly tricks like they showed in movies. And was even happier to see that he had not picked one of the chiffon sarees."

By the time she came out, a steaming cup of coffee was waiting for her. As soon as she came out rubbing her wet hair with a towel, he called out to her, "Riddhima come and have the coffee before it gets cold." When she went and sat opposite him at the coffee table she saw him poring over some of the colourful pamphlets, he had collected the previous day.

"Today we'll go to" he had begun, but when he raised his head and looked at her, he remained staring at her, open mouthed. When her soft call "athaan, athaan" didn't have any effect on him, she shook his arm. He came back to the present with a jolt and confessed, "You look very beautiful in that saree, with your wet hair open." She just smiled shyly, her cheeks matching the colour of her saree.

A: I was saying, let's go the Kurinji Andavar Murugan temple today.

She was very happy hearing that and said "Yes, that would be very nice." In her mind, she had wanted to get God's blessing for the new development in their relationship. Armaan felt very proud at having gauged her thoughts correctly and pleased her with his suggestion. "I'll go and have bath" he said putting his cup down and moving to the washroom. In the meantime she plaited her hair loosely and put on the bindi and kajal.

They were sitting in the cab which they had called while they had their breakfast, when Suja called. When they had called earlier she was having bath. She was very happy to hear her amma's voice so joyful. Riddhima told her that they were visiting a temple that morning. Then she enquired about the new cook Suja had appointed and was glad to know that she was doing a good job.

Riddhima bought a pooja thali at the temple gate and asked the poojari to perform a pooja in her athaan's name, as usual. But Armaan intervened and asked him to perform it jointly in both their names. The main diety of the temple was Murugan with his two consorts.

Hearing Armaan ask Riddhima about Lord Muruga's consorts, the Poojariji explained that Muruga's first wife Deyvanai, the daughter of Lord Indra, is considered as Energy of Action (Kriya-Sakthi) and his second wife, Valli, who was the daughter of a tribal king, is considered as the Energy of Desire (Iccha-Sakthi). But whenever people spoke of Murugan's consorts, they always said Valli- Deyvanai, taking Valli's name first. Muruga's first marriage was an arranged one but the second one was his choice.

In her mind Riddhima thought it was so similar to their life. She compared herself to Deyvanai and Karuna to Valli. Perhaps that's why Karuna has been her athaan's desire and with whom he spent a major part of his life. But then made up her mind that her Murugan was back to his Deyvanai, so it was upto her to make the remaining part of his life as beautiful as she could.

Hi friends,

I'm once again off on a 2 weeks break. Every time I think of ending this ff, your requests make me prolong it. This time also I had planned to wind it up before going on this break, so posted parts in quick succession in the past week. But still couldn't manage to bring it to a proper end. I'll continue it for a few more parts on my return.

So in advance wishing all of you A VERY HAPPY, PROSPEROUS AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR! MAY EACH DAY OF 2012 BE FILLED WITH GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS FOR YOU ALL.

Love,

Shardha

awsum part di..

glad to see thir relation...moving to the new level..

enjoy ur holidays...

thnx for the pm...