Dictatorship
He looked tired and scruffy, she felt bad for him, sleeping on a recliner was not ideal.
“What are you doing here?” he asked in utter shock”
“Maine tumhe kal kaha tha” she said quietly
“Its so early” he was still in shock
“Tumhare jaane ke baad aati?” she asked him looking deeply into his eyes
He didn’t respond
“I know Raanav it’s a non traditional marriage, but I made a promise”
“Why do u keep saying that” his eyes were red, and he looked irritated
“Umm.. nevermind”
“You showed up here to start a fight?” he growled
They were standing in a corner of the large plush lounge with a wall of windows and recliners and a large wall mounted TV and a giant fridge ina corner
“Sorry tumhe aisa lage to but no” she shrugged crossing her arms across her chest
She looked lovely he thought in a navy mirrorwork saree and a hot pink blouse
“Are you going to work?” he asked
“Abhin ahi…. Baad mein” she looked at him confused
And found him staring, she realized how he made her feel
They had had little opportunity to savor each other physically
“You look lovely”
“Abhi gussa nahi ho tum?” she asked grumpily, pushing her glasses up
“No, not when I look at you… LOOK at you” he ack
He watched satisfied as deep warmth coated her face
“Abhi kaise hain?” she asked distracting him
“Jeez!” he cursed when he realized she was willfully distracting him
“Jis kaam ke liye aayi hoon” she nodded
“Thanks Viveka” he was pissed when she told him off, she wasn’t here to see him off
“Hes fine, off the oxygen, if his vitals stay good until 6 PM he will be moved to a non ICU room”
“OMG! SUCH GOOD NEWS” her face lit up with genuine happiness
“I could have told you sooner” he stared dumbfounded at how lovely she looked when she was happy
He had forgotten happier times with her. He had forgotten many things over the last week
“Abhi dekhen?” she asked eagerly
He nodded slowly
“Kya hua?” she asked softly
“You are so happy?” he muttered irked
“Tum chahte they who ICU mein rahein?” she joked
“Stop it!” he growled grabbing her elbow and steering her
“Abhi unke saamne mat lado”
“ITS MY fault?” he paused
“MAINE to apna mooh nahi chadaya kal because of a genuine mistake of not checking VM”
Rajeev Syal stepped out of the ICU
“Sir… wow… Ma’am?” he smiled joyously
“Hi! Rajeev”
“Hes waiting he has already asked me twice” Rajeev laughed
“I appeared by magic” she smiled
“That’s not true” Raanav corrected her
Viveka chuckled and kept walking
“You are a sight for sore eyes beta” Satyen gushed
His grey beard was thick now
“AND U look very distinguished”
“Can I pass off as an Economist”
“Bas kurta pehanna parega” she giggled pushing her glasses up
“Lekar aate hain”
“I am sooo happy you are OK”
“Biwi nahi aayi” he sighed
“She is on her way, I heard Rajeev tell someone outside”
“Haha sun liya?” he teased
Smrita loved him more than herself
She would never abandon him, she saw it in Satyen’s eyes
“She probably was headed here anyway”
“You are gracious beta” he sighed
“It’s the truth” she nodded “Ma bhi” she stopped
“I know… its hard to imagine your Papa right?” he smiled
She nodded teary eyed
“Aur yeh mahashay, what is he upto”
“I am headed to Aurangabad, the warehouse wall that was damaged by rain” he mumbled
There was some union issue because of a collapsed wall and worker claim
“Shaadi ka bhai aapke ghar mein?” he asked Viveka
“Tomorrow” she said slowly
“Whattt?” he looked furious
He looked at Raanav
He looked unperturbed
“Why is she here? Singapore mein hai?”
“Umm.. no Bangkok” she said with a smile
“Why is she here Raanav?”
“Umm.. because we got married two days ago?” Raanav was irritated
“ISKO kyon nahi bheja”
“Umm”
Raanav wanted to say “We put on this whole show for YOU. You wanted her to take off for the wedding? How authentic would that have been?”
“You need to go beta, shaadi hai, aap jao”
“No its OK” viveka smiled
“Kal raat TU ruka yaha?” Satyen asked beginning o cough
“U should rest” Viveka spoke in hushed tone
“Umm… send her to the wedding Raanav” Satyen leaned on the pillow and closed his eyes
“I am fine”
“Mujhe pata hai beta, you will be fine” he mocked her
“Right now?” Raanav asked coolly
“Yep” Satyen said calmly
“I can let Rajeev know”
“You cant make arrangements for your own wife?”
“Well I have to leave for the airport in 30 minutes
“She can go with you”
“”I cant go at 2 dad, I have to meet Prakash Gokhale at the Arbitration office at 2”
“Ask Rajeev to reset that appointment, workers comp at Power Engg is 2.5 times the industry average” Satyen mumbled exasperated
“If you are trying to earn brownie points from Viveka, forget it, you will always be seen as a unscrupulous employer” he said silkily
“I am not trying to influence Viveka, I want you to take her to the airport and head out” he said
The nurse kicked them out
“How long should she go for?” Raanav demanded mockingly
“that’s for her to decide
“Umm… there is a little matter of being newly wed and all” he bit out
“You should have thought of that before baby sitting me last night” he laughed
And WINKED at Viveka
Viveka turned red
Rajeev peeked as Raanav had texted him
“I have the details” he said aloof
“K sir”
“I can go after they return, I mean I can see them when they return to Delhi” Viveka smiled waving at satyen
“I want pictures of you on the plane, at the island, AND send him a picture drinking something expensive with an umbrella on it” he pointed to a departing Raanav😆
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