It was Promila and Dida. Dida had gifts for us. As soon as she entered she looked around the room and then eyed me from head to toe. She was staring at our bed. I turned around and noticed the messed up sheets. A pillow had fallen on the floor. I could feel my cheeks turning pink.
"Mauli puttar, what happened in here? Dida asked.
"Dida um, there was a spider...in our bed...I was trying to find it. I said. Promila giggled. She helped place the gifts on the bed and left. Kunal came out.
"Morning Dida! he said and gave her a hug.
"Morning, Kunal. Puttar what's that red mark on your neck? she asked. Kunal touched it. What mark? He asked. I loved how he felt the mark but still questioned its existence. It was fun watching him taken off his guard. I enjoyed watching his discomfort.
"There, Puttar...it's red, and looks new. Looks like something bit you. She said. Kunal's eyes widened and he looked down at the floor. Then he looked at me and I coughed. It wasn't something but someone. It was me.
"Dida, that was the spider. It bit Kunal. I said. Dida seemed unconvinced. "Be careful, Puttar. Take medicines if it causes a fever. She said. We nodded. Dida left. Kunal turned around.
"Mauli yaar, what did you do? he asked. He was blushing. I burst into laughter. He looked embarrassed. He looked closely at it in the mirror.
"How am I supposed to hide that? It's so obvious. Oh my God. A spider couldn't do that. He said. I shrugged.
"Oops... I said. "I have concealer. It works wonders. I said. I laughed hysterically.
"Concealer won't be enough, yaar. That was Dida questioning me. Next the kids will ask. Did you plan to suck my blood? Are you a vampire? Have I been injected with venom or something? he asked. I laughed so hard that I fell down on the bed. He came and lay next to me.
"Um, I need to get even for this. He said. He said it a bit hesitantly. He was like this now. He'd open up one minute and be hesitant the next. I propped myself on my elbows and looked at him.
"And what's your plan to get even? I asked. I was curious. He smiled slightly.
"I don't know. Let me just face Dida without getting embarrassed first. I know Dida, she figured it out. He said. We both laughed. I put my head against his chest. It was easy to spend the whole day here but we couldn't. The next two days were spent with the girls. Taking them to the zoo, the pool, shopping, and watching movies with them was our priority. At night they both refused to sleep without us. We let them sleep in between us. Pari kept her arms and legs wrapped around me and Mishti snuggled close to Kunal.
Two days and nights turned into three. The girls were so happy that we didn't plan a day together for just ourselves. Kunal told them about how we met and fell in love during college. I smiled hearing their giggles as they heard stories of how I kept rejecting Kunal's proposals. At last, my past memories became dear to me again instead of repulsive.
On the third night while the girls slept. Kunal and I were awake.
We got up and decided to sit and talk. "We need to put them back on a schedule again. I know they're happy and so are we but they can't get used to this. They have school and we both will have work. I think from tomorrow, we need to get them to sleep in their own room again. I said. He agreed.
"But it's been so much fun too, Mauli. It's just so hard to say no to them for anything.
"I know. It has. They're so happy. I said.
"I deprived Mishti of 6 years but you've given Pari her entire childhood back in a few days. She really needed a mother. I tried but seeing her with you shows me that she needed you. Thanks, Mauli. He said. He was teary eyed.
"Kunal, she's my child now, and Mishti is definitely yours. I said. He got up and hugged me.
"You're amazing, Mauli. You're the best. I want to spend the next few days locked up somewhere with you. He said. "I mean, only if you want. He added. I looked up into his eyes.
"Where? I asked.
"Somewhere...like a honeymoon...a mini honeymoon. He said. I could tell that he thought that I'd refuse him.
"I'm in. I said. I smiled widely. "Relax, Kunal. I know you won't bite. I said.
We laughed. "Speaking of bites...this still hasn't healed. He showed it to me.
"Wow. You're a slow healer.
"Yeah, slow healing Doctor. He said.
"Keep moaning about this and I'll give you another bite to match that one. " I threatened. "What? He asked. He grabbed me by the elbow but I tickled him till he let me go. Then I made a run for it. He chased me. We had no place to run to except the guest room. We couldn't go to our room and wake the kids up.
We went in and locked the door. I was laughing. I couldn't control it.
"Shhh! Kunal said. He covered my mouth.
Kunal's POV.
"Do you want to wake the whole house up? I asked her. She removed my hand. "Kunal! We can't stay in here. The kids might wake up and look for us. She said. I agreed, but we were alone in the middle of the night. It was thrilling nonetheless. I didn't want to sleep yet. I wanted to be around her. I wanted to feel alive. I held her in my arms. I wanted to see if she would change her mind.
"Ok, let's go... I said. I turned to open the door but she held my wrist.
"What? I asked. She bit her lip. "Maybe we can stay a little longer. She said. She had changed her mind. I looked into her eyes.
I didn't know what had come over me. I felt like I was in college again. I used to run around trying to find time alone with Mauli just like this. She used to make excuses but I never gave up. Currently, she was standing a bit too far away from me. I grabbed her and pressed her against the wall.
"One minute you tell me the kids might wake up and then you stop me. Make up your mind, Mauli. I said. She smiled. Our foreheads touched. "If someone knocks on the door and interrupts again, I swear to God..., I said. She found that really amusing. She laughed.
"You were so annoyed. First the kids and then Dida, only Mumma is left. She said. Then she burst out laughing.
"Haha! Very funny.
Mauli touched my cheek. I could sense the vulnerability in her. Somewhere, she was just as afraid as I was. She was just as insecure, if not more, than I was. I wanted to take those insecurities away. She closed her eyes. Her mouth was slightly open. I kissed her. She was wearing a black nightie. Her hair was open. She had no makeup on. She pushed me off her, playfully. It was that old, carefree, seductive Mauli I'd fallen in love with, who was a child at heart. It was a miracle that she could be herself again, after everything she had gone through. I managed the grab her and picked her up. I took her to the bed.
"If someone knocks on the door, Mauli...I'm not speaking to you tomorrow. I warned her. She grabbed me by the collar and pulled me closer. "Why? Why does it bother you so much? She asked. Her eyes, her touch, everything was so inviting. "Last chance to stop me... I said. "Answer me, Kunal... She begged. "Why does it bother you if you're interrupted? She asked.
"So you want to stop? I asked her.
"NO! she replied. I smiled.
"Now let me get even for this mark on my neck. I said. She giggled. She was too adorable.
That night no one stopped me. Even my own dreadful inner monologues couldn't. "I missed you I said. I pulled her closer, skin against skin. I kissed her forehead. If I couldn't feel her touch or hear her breathing then I probably wouldn't be able to believe that this was real. I kissed her and she kissed me back. Close didn't feel close enough. "Kunal... She said. "Don't leave me again, because this time I'll actually end up dying. She said, her voice sounded heavy. She began crying. "I'd rather die than to put you through anything like that again... I said. I knew whatever I said wasn't enough. I wiped away her tears and kissed her cheeks. I hugged her and she hugged back just as fiercely. Her scent, her warmth, and the shape of her, all took me back to a happy place I had left myself. I traced her waist. She trembled. Her hands were on my shoulders and then my back. My senses were overwhelmed. Years of memories came back to connect this moment with many other. I kept my eyes on her face. Her eyes conveyed love but a lot of insecurities. I knew she was scared that she was trusting the wrong person again and that I'd take all of her with me and then run off. I wished tonight would be enough to reassure her that I belonged to her fully. It was definitely the most beautiful night of my life. Nothing could've topped this.
She slept with her head on my shoulder. I tried to stay awake to watch her sleeping blissfully beside me. She was smiling in her sleep again. I hoped to be the reason behind her smile. I knew we should've gone back to our room but I didn't have the heart to wake her. I covered her with a blanket and soon I was asleep too.
I woke up in the middle of the night. It was only 4am. I wasn't sure what had woken me. I immediately looked to my right. Mauli was there. It made me so happy to see her there. Then she mumbled in her sleep. I couldn't make out what she was saying. She seemed disturbed.
"Mauli? I whispered. I wasn't sure if I should wake her up.
"No Kunal, don't go...please don't leave me... she said. She was crying in her sleep. I froze. A chill went down my spine. She was having a nightmare about me leaving her.
She clutched at the blanket. "I promise to...be...Kunal, don't go...Nandini, please don't do this to me... She said. She was crying. I had no idea what to do. There was so much pain and anguish in her voice. Even In her dreams, that entire scenario was playing out. "Kunal... she mumbled my name. I put my arms around her and she clung to me. The nightmare ended and she was fast asleep again. I also slept. When she woke me up, it was 7 in the morning.
She was in a very good mood. I wasn't. I recalled the way she'd cried in her sleep. I noticed our clothes scattered about and remembered why they'd ended up there. Why did this keep happening to me? The night was bliss and I wanted to replay it and relive it over and over but right now, I couldn't think about anything but Mauli's condition. She tossed me my clothes.
"Why are you just sitting there? Get dressed. Aren't we going somewhere today? he asked. I didn't repay. She gave me a kiss on the cheek. I smiled half heartedly. She apparently had no recollection of her own nightmare. I was glad in a way but if only I could shake it off. Throughout the day, I tried to behave normally. I had promised to take her somewhere and I still wanted to fulfill that promised.
We said goodbye to everyone and promised the kids that we'd be back very soon.
"So, where are we going? She asked me excitedly.
"A honeymoon suite. I said. "Just a place to getaway for a while... I told her. She was happy. I didn't talk much till we reached. I took our stuff to our room. She checked the view from the window. No doubt that everything was fabulous.
"Well, I love it. Do you? She asked.
"Yeah, of course. I said.
"What happened, Kunal? She asked. She looked worried all of a sudden. "You seem low. Now that I think of it, you haven't talked much since you woke up. You didn't eat much at breakfast or dinner either. What's going on? She asked. She looked worried as well as a bit scared.
"Nothing. Everything is fine. I said.
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