Dinner was a silent affair for Khurana family as the "Chatter box" daughter in law of the family had not spoken a single word tonight on dining table.Even Aarav was also silent today,however he had his own big reasons for this silence. His "artistic piece" was brutally ignored by his family.He was eating with grumpy face whatever veggies Kiran was feeding him.
Maan's eyes were fixed on his wife,who was busy playing with food in her plate with a forlorn expression on her face.Her gloominess pricked his heart as for the first time he felt little anger for his in laws for scolding his wife.
"If you are done beta,you can go and rest in your room.."Mamta said diverting geet's attention from plate to her mother in law.
"Hmm.."She nodded her head for "yes" as she left the dining table and walked upstairs.
"Mohinder ji should not have scolded her this much for this small prank..."Mamta exclaimed after some time.
"He did what you should have done Mamta ji.."Maya exclaimed in venomous tone."I don't understand why you are ignoring her "childishness"..She is not a kid anymore..She should understand her responsibility now.."She spoke further almost crushing the piece of cucumber with her fingers.
"She is a responsible girl Maya ji..This little "naughtiness" is in her nature and I don't want to snatch it..Her "childishness" is required in my "home" which has more than needed maturity.."Mamta replied.
"It would be better if you rely on your son's children for this "required childishness",Mamta ji.."Maya said with a smirk.."I hope your daughter in law won't disappointment you like mine.."She discharged the venom eyeing Kiran now.
Maan did not miss the misty eyes of his sister as she continued feeding her son.
"Who scolded mami???"Aarav's innocent voice broke the dead silence.This was "what" his brain could grasp from the "conversation" between his grandmothers few minutes ago.
"Her father scolded her beta.."Maya replied.
"Who told him that mami did not see my drawing???"Aarav questioned further assuming the reason behind his Mami getting scolded by his own. "I would show her my drawing now..Her "papa" won't get mad then.."He spoke further getting down his chair.
"No..you won't go to Mamu's room to trouble maami..Wash your hands and go to our room..."Kiran almost yelled at her son but the very next moment she felt bad for venting her anger on poor son of hers.
Big fat tears rolled down his chubby cheeks as he ran towards his "mamu" to cry in his arms.
"Sshh..Brave boys don't cry.."Maan tried to console his crying nephew as he took him in his lap.
"Give him to me Maan..Your wife needs you "more" at this moment.."Mamta exclaimed in an instructing voice.
Before Mamta could take Aarav ,She was interrupted by Maya.."You don't worry Mamta ji..I can take care of my grandson.."She spoke taking aarav in her arms,as she started walking towards her room.
"No one loves me daadi.."Aarav whispered amidst hiccups,crying in his grandma's lap for the second time in the day..
"I know beta but your daadi would always love you.."Maya replied caressing her grandson's head.
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Even the chime of the golden bangles,that Nani had gifted Geet, appeared little sad to Maan as he saw his wife applying Moisturizer on her arms at the dressing table.He kept the book,he was pretending to read since last fifteen minutes,on the side table with his mind contemplating the way to initiate some conversation which could divert geet's attention.
"Geet.."He called her in a soft voice,getting up form the bed.
"Maan..Its first time when daddy has raised his voice at me.."Geet exclaimed anxiously looking towards him in a teary voice.
Maan did not find any difference between his crying nephew and his wife at that moment as he opened his arms for her.She did take a single minute to run into his open arms.There was no reluctance in her as she crushed herself in his embrace.In their own accord,his arms tightened around her petite body to hug her more close to him.
"SShhh..."He said trying to stop her tears which were flowing freely now.."i was stopping you from telling them..Why did not you listen to me???"He spoke further.
"Like you were stopping me to save from these scoldings...You just wanted to save yourself from embarrassment.."She replied back,hitting his back slightly.
"But it would have saved you too..Now common stop being a crybaby...It does not suit to 'my' hemamalini.."He exclaimed caressing her head with one hand where as his other hand was still around her waist.
"hmm.."She answered as she wiped her cheeks and nose on his shoulder.
"Ewww...geet.."Maan spoke pulling out from the hug first looking towards his shoulder.His t-shirt was wet at that place because of her tears as well as "something watery" that came from her nose.
"I can do that with "MY" laddu.."She exclaimed putting much emphasis on "MY" as she collected one "Wet wipe" from the pack kept near the bed lamp to wipe his shoulder.
"Feeling good now???"He asked cupping her face while his thumbs wiped the tear streaks.
"Very much" She replied with a smile.
"Thats like a good girl..Common lets sleep now.."He spoke as he bent down to settle the pillows on the bed.
"I am not sleepy maan..Can't we talk for a while.."Geet asked taking her side on the bed.
"Hmm..go ahead..!!!"Maan said nonchalantly adjusting the pillow behind his back.."You have already punished your tongue alot by keeping it shut for such a long time.."He spoke further with a smirk.
"No..Today you would start the conversation,maan..This would be your "training" for the act of "Chit Chat" so that you don't feel "left out" when we would visit your friend's place next time.."
"I was not feeling "left out"..Maan replied with little offence.
"ah haan..I could see that..."Geet said in a teasing tone,only to find her husband picking the "book" from the side table which showed his clear "disinterest" in "chit chat training" proposed by her.
"Please maan..Don't you have anything to talk about??? This time her voice was laced with disappointment.It made Maan abandon the book once again as he sighed loudly.May be he could use this opportunity to talk about something which was revolving in his mind since their wedding night.
"I have something important to talk about geet.."Seriousness in his voice made geet look towards him intensely as she came near him on the bed.
"I am all ears maan"She replied.
"I want to talk about "mystery" .."He said with little awkwardness.
"I hate physics maan..I just don't want to solve any numerical" Geet said getting up from the bed but before she could leave,She felt his hand holding hers.
"I want to talk about "Your mystery",not mine..."Maan spoke with urgency.
"Hmm"She nodded in response feeling little anxious for the first time in presence of her husband.
"Geet..like every other girl you might have some "expectations" from your wedding night.."Maan spoke in order to initiate the conversation.."But you found me sleeping that night and the very next night,I left for Aagra..."he continued in an apologetic voice.
"You have already apologized for that Maan and regarding first night,I was sent to room near 3 am after all the rituals..I seriously was not expecting you to be up at that time after long tiring marriage ceremony and moreover maan,I don't think you would have been able to break the ice on the first night ..You are too shy to touch me even now.."Geet ended with a teasing smile.
"Were you expecting me to do so???"Maan asked with his eyes looking straight into hers.
"I don't know maan..Honestly telling,I did want to think about all this that night..I had left everything on your choice...I would not have stopped you if you want to..."Geet replied lowering her eyes.
"and What was your wish geet???" He asked again.
He heard her sighing loudly before she replied,,"You know maan..One of my friend got married few months back..It was an arrange marriage just like us..After our alliance got fixed,I talked to her.She was the only one who could understand my dilemma of spending rest of my life with a stranger..She herself had gone through the same phase after all.I asked her,how did she fell in love with her husband in just short time span after marriage???"
"So what did your friend answer???"He asked.
"She said,Marriage would make you "learn",how to love your husband,once all the physical barriers would be shed.."
Maan was able to read the "disapproval" in her eyes for her friend's statement..."and you don't agree with her answer!!!"He exclaimed.
She nodded her head for No as she spoke..".I wanted to shed all the emotional barriers before overcoming the physical barriers..I just wanted to love my husband maan,rather than learning to love him..."
"I respect your choice geet.."He answered with a smile.
"And what about your choice,Your expectations maan???"Geet asked now.
"I did not want to touch my wife that night because she would not have stopped me.. I would touch her only when she would want me to do so,when she would be in love with me and I would be in love with her.."He spoke with his intense gaze fixed on her."and I think I am already in love with her..."He thought in his mind.
"And how both of you would fall in love with each other??"She asked again holding his intense eyes.
"You remember First law of thermodynamics geet???"He asked suddenly making her confused for a moment.
"Yes,I remember It says,"Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed..It can only be transformed from one form to another"...
"It also apply to love too geet.."Love can neither be created nor be destroyed..It can only be transformed from one form to another.."
"Love has different forms maan???"
"Yes geet.. Love has different forms like Friendship,Admiration,Adoration,Respect,Reverence,Emotional bonding, Physical intimacy etc etc..Even Hate is also a form of love...Me and my wife have become best friends now,We are on our way to love..."He said taking her hand in his.
"Are you willing to take our relationship one step ahead ???"She asked keeping her head near his heart.
"I have already told you geet that i would always respect your wish...Your willingness is more important..."He answered.
"This "mystery" thing always confuses me maan..I like to be "with" you..I have never felt uncomfortable to touch you or hug you..Even my own "free" behaviour with you surprises me sometimes.."She chuckled.." But How would I decide that I am ready for "mystery"?
"We can't decide it because Physical intimacy is like a " reflex reaction.""
" Reflex Reaction???"
"Yes..Like blinking of eyes or withdrawing your hand when you touch something hot..These things can not be decided by Brain..They just happen geet..."
"Hmm.."
"You were talking about "learning love" few minutes ago geet.."
"Yes..Is it possible to "learn to love someone" maan???"
"No,,Love is not needed to be learned because Love is an "Unconditioned Reflex"..."
"and what is unconditioned reflex now???"Geet asked.
"Swallowing of food..Breast feeding..They are unconditioned reflexes geet...No body makes a baby learn how to suck milk during breast feeding..These are "default abilities" of humans and love is one of these default abilities..."
Geet responded with another "Hmm" this time too.Maan waited for another question from her but It did not come.
"What are you thinking geet???"He asked after some time.
"That I have married to a "Science buff" who applies "Thermodynamic laws" to love..."She replied with a chuckle,making maan smile with her.
"So..our chit chat session is over for tonight???"He questioned picking his book again.
"Yes..You may read now..and I am going to sleep...Good night.."
Maan waited for Geet to shift towards her side of bed but She did not,Instead she kept laying in same position on his chest..
"Tell me when you are tired,I would shift on my pillow.."
He heard her mumbling after some time in a sleepy voice.He smiled slightly as he turned off the bed lamp and pulled his wife more close to him.
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ps-Sorry for "Science lessons" at the end..You can blame "Sarso ka saag" for it..Extra iron in my body is making my mind write all this...😕
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