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Hello all! I'm back again. Sorry I couldn't update sooner - I came down with a nasty cold this weekend so spent most of it coughing away while trying to watch Jhalak Dikhala Ja and Nach Baliye for the hundreth time 😆 (Every time I started to watch them I would take a coughing fit. 😕 Don't think I saw Mini's perfomance yet 😕 ) Anyways, here is my installment. It seems very short, but I will update it ASAP I promise 😊 :
Chapter 9 – Dev's Fright
3 months later...
A large ray of sunlight cast a hazy beam across the kitchen as Dev walked into it early one morning. He was in a half-awake state and the brightness of the sunshine as it streamed through the window hurt his eyes. Putting a hand up to sheild his vision he saw a blurred figure moving about amidst the sunbeam. At first he thought he was still dreaming; the figure seemed to be merged with the sunlight, an indistinct flutter of golden rays here and there before his eyes, but when he rubbed his eyes and stumbled further into the room, so that the sun was no longer in his eyes, he realised that there was indeed a figure rushing about the room: Kaajjal. Instantly anxiety began to claw at his senses and his heart gave a startled jolt, a frown furrowing his brow slightly. Kaajjal looked a vision of loveliness in a sunny yellow sari with shimmering sequences along its border and dotted here and there across the main body of the material. Her face glowed with healthiness and happiness and her chestnut hair had never shone so richly before. She was like a goddess and for a moment Dev nearly forgot his concern at seeing her dashing about, mesmerised by her beauty. Before that could happen however she happened to turn round and spy him. Her face broke into a bright smile that made her eyes sparkle with delight and when she spoke there was a chirpiness to her voice.
"Arre, Dev, tum yahan par? I thought you were still asleep. Take a seat," she told him, laying a plate down on the table. "I've made aloo parathe."
"What happened to you resting?" he asked her as he crossed the room.
He placed his hands on the back of the chair and stared at her with raised eyebrows and quizzical eyes. She rolled her eyes and gave a naughty giggle, turning with more nimbleness than one in her condition would normally possess and taking up another plate she began to rub it slowly with a towel, gazing dreamily out of the window at the azure sky.
"Subah bahut khoobsurat hai, don't you think?" she asked Dev. "It looks as if the whole world has come out to celebrate today, nah?"
"Don't change the subject Kaajjal," he replied. "What made you get up so early today? After what happened yesterday..."
Dev was refering to an incident where a child had run mistakenly into Kaajjal as she was walking down the school corridor and made her stumble. She had fallen and just managed to catch onto a chair before she hit the ground. Her first reaction had been one of concern for her unborn child, but after being checked by the doctor she had been assured she was perfectly well. After that she had thought nothing of it and it had completely slipped her mind by the time Dev arrived home from work. She had greeted him with her usual smile and asked him how his day had been when he grabbed her by the arms and demanded to know why she hadn't told him she had been hurt. Baffled she hadn't known how to reply when he explained that he had met Mr Tejwani on the way home and he had told him about her fall. Kaajjal had laughed gaily and told Dev not to worry, that the doctor had assured her nothing was wrong and to sit down and wait for dinner, but Dev was not for backing down. Every minute of every hour his mind was filled with anxiety for Kaajjal and their unborn child and this news had frightened him. His heart had still been pounding in trepidation at that moment. He had refused to let her do anyhting strenuous all night, making her lie on the bed while he kept a check on her tempearture and was ready to phone the doctor should she so much as sneeze. That was why seeing her scurrying back and forth across the kitchen this morning had alarmed him so greatly.
"Uff Dev!" she sighed, hitting a palm against her forehead in exasperation. "How many times have I told you? There is nothing wrong either with me or our baby. Now come on, sit, or the paratha will get cold."
Dev sighed but he knew when to give in to her insistence. Although it didn't please him to see her rushing about and his heart still had a misgiving gnawing away at it, he sat down as she brought the parathas over and placed them down before him. Smiling at him in her sweet manner she took her seat and broke a piece off, holding it over to him.
"Here, eat," she told him.
Dev folded his fingers over hers and she smiled contentedly, a soft glow in her eyes, but instead of bringing the morsel to his own lips he turned her hand round and pushed it towards her. She frowned at him in puzzlement and refused to take it.
"Dev, what is this?" she asked him.
"I won't eat until you do," he told her firmly.
"Paar Dev..." she began, half-laughing, half-surprised.
"Kaajjal please eat," he implored her. "I won't be happy until you do. I mean it, I won't touch a mouthful before you."
The very thought of Dev going hungry filled her heart with dread and without a further word she took the paratha from his hand. Seeing her chew made his face soften into an adoring smile, making his brown eyes glimmer with that fascinating light that always took her breath away. Satisfied that she was going to eat he took a paratha onto his plate and started his own meal. Kaajjal watched him in awe, losing herself in gazing at his face. With his hair still slightly tumbled from sleep and the shadow of stubble along his jaw line he looked rugged yet handsome and when the sunlight glinted across his eyes they glowed as if two flames had ignited in them. What captivated her the most was seeing the expression of enjoyment in the lines of his face as he ate. It comforted her heart to know that he was taking care of himself for once. Much as she delighted in his concern for her there was a greater worry in her mind and that was that in looking after her health he was neglecting his own. That was why she got annoyed with him when he fussed over her too much. If only once he would remember himself, she thought at those times.
Just then Dev happened to glance up and saw her sitting with her hands folded under her chin, watching him with that far away glow in her eyes. He frowned and snapped his fimgers under her nose, making her jump back to the present. She shook her head and looked at him with wide, astonished eyes. A mirthful grin was on his lips, bringing out his dimples, and his eyes were shining with amusement as he gestured with his hand in enquiry.
"Where were you lost?" he asked her.
She shook her head with a smile and began to eat. When the breakfast was over she rose and took the plates to the sink before Dev could protest. He rose to his feet and watched her with increasing alarm as she scurried here and there. He desperately wanted to say something to her but she ensured her couldn't by chattering away to him the whole time about his work and what she had prepared for his lunch. Every now and again he would open his mouth but seeing this she would just raise her voice and he would have to bite his tongue, though inside he was writhing with anxiety. The more she spoke the more out of breath she seemed to be getting and at last Dev had to grab her by the shoulders and meet her surprised gaze with his stern eyes.
"Dev, choro mujhe!" she laughed. "I have to get ready for class."
"Class?" he repeated incredulously. "Kaajjal, aaj nahin. Kal kuch bhi hua uss ki baad..."
"I have to go Dev," she interrputed him. "It won't be for much longer now and I promise you if I feel unwell I will come straight home."
As she said this she managed to free herself from his grip and she turned away to gather more stuff of the table. Dev's frustration was building up inside him like air gathering in a balloon and he had to restrain himself from marching her into the room and locking her in. Breathing deeply he tried to talk calmly to her, running an agitated hand through his hair as she skipped blithely about.
"Kaajjal, mere baat sunno," he pleaded. "Dekho, I never said don't go back to school, lekin aaj? Zaroori kya hai?"
"There is no need Dev, bas meri marzi," she responded breezily. "Aur waise bhi, what would I do here all day? Sit about? I have plenty of time for that yet. It's good for the baby to get out too."
"Lekin Kaajjal..." he began.
"Lekin lekin kuch nahin Dev!" she cried, walking away as her temper began to increase. "I'm going, bas! Aur you can say whatever you want; it won't make a difference to me. I know when I am well and when I am sick and I feel fine. There is nothing..."
Just then she let out a little cry of startlement and she placed a hand on her stomach, her eyes widening and her mouth falling open. Dev's heart slammed in his chest and a cold shiver of fear rushed down his spine, chilling his blood. He turned pale and all he could do was watch Kaajjal hold her stomach, that stricken look on her face. He had never seen that expression on her face and it made his heart contract into a tight ball of fear. Every nerve in his body screamed at him to move, but all he could do was stand there, his fear stalking across his limbs and laying its icy fingers on them, paralysing him. Kaajjal gave another of her strange cries and waved her hand at him, as if beckonening him, her eyes widening all the time. It was the jolt he needed and with a thumping heart he bounded towards her, crying out frantically,
"Kaajjal!"
A cliffhanger ending for a change 😃 Hope you all enjoyed it and please do leave a comment for me. I'm always so touched by the lovely words you write in response 😊 Oh, and do excuse my Hindi if it's gone haywire - it's my cold's fault! 😆
Anu 😳
Chapter 9 – Dev's Fright
3 months later...
A large ray of sunlight cast a hazy beam across the kitchen as Dev walked into it early one morning. He was in a half-awake state and the brightness of the sunshine as it streamed through the window hurt his eyes. Putting a hand up to sheild his vision he saw a blurred figure moving about amidst the sunbeam. At first he thought he was still dreaming; the figure seemed to be merged with the sunlight, an indistinct flutter of golden rays here and there before his eyes, but when he rubbed his eyes and stumbled further into the room, so that the sun was no longer in his eyes, he realised that there was indeed a figure rushing about the room: Kaajjal. Instantly anxiety began to claw at his senses and his heart gave a startled jolt, a frown furrowing his brow slightly. Kaajjal looked a vision of loveliness in a sunny yellow sari with shimmering sequences along its border and dotted here and there across the main body of the material. Her face glowed with healthiness and happiness and her chestnut hair had never shone so richly before. She was like a goddess and for a moment Dev nearly forgot his concern at seeing her dashing about, mesmerised by her beauty. Before that could happen however she happened to turn round and spy him. Her face broke into a bright smile that made her eyes sparkle with delight and when she spoke there was a chirpiness to her voice.
"Arre, Dev, tum yahan par? I thought you were still asleep. Take a seat," she told him, laying a plate down on the table. "I've made aloo parathe."
"What happened to you resting?" he asked her as he crossed the room.
He placed his hands on the back of the chair and stared at her with raised eyebrows and quizzical eyes. She rolled her eyes and gave a naughty giggle, turning with more nimbleness than one in her condition would normally possess and taking up another plate she began to rub it slowly with a towel, gazing dreamily out of the window at the azure sky.
"Subah bahut khoobsurat hai, don't you think?" she asked Dev. "It looks as if the whole world has come out to celebrate today, nah?"
"Don't change the subject Kaajjal," he replied. "What made you get up so early today? After what happened yesterday..."
Dev was refering to an incident where a child had run mistakenly into Kaajjal as she was walking down the school corridor and made her stumble. She had fallen and just managed to catch onto a chair before she hit the ground. Her first reaction had been one of concern for her unborn child, but after being checked by the doctor she had been assured she was perfectly well. After that she had thought nothing of it and it had completely slipped her mind by the time Dev arrived home from work. She had greeted him with her usual smile and asked him how his day had been when he grabbed her by the arms and demanded to know why she hadn't told him she had been hurt. Baffled she hadn't known how to reply when he explained that he had met Mr Tejwani on the way home and he had told him about her fall. Kaajjal had laughed gaily and told Dev not to worry, that the doctor had assured her nothing was wrong and to sit down and wait for dinner, but Dev was not for backing down. Every minute of every hour his mind was filled with anxiety for Kaajjal and their unborn child and this news had frightened him. His heart had still been pounding in trepidation at that moment. He had refused to let her do anyhting strenuous all night, making her lie on the bed while he kept a check on her tempearture and was ready to phone the doctor should she so much as sneeze. That was why seeing her scurrying back and forth across the kitchen this morning had alarmed him so greatly.
"Uff Dev!" she sighed, hitting a palm against her forehead in exasperation. "How many times have I told you? There is nothing wrong either with me or our baby. Now come on, sit, or the paratha will get cold."
Dev sighed but he knew when to give in to her insistence. Although it didn't please him to see her rushing about and his heart still had a misgiving gnawing away at it, he sat down as she brought the parathas over and placed them down before him. Smiling at him in her sweet manner she took her seat and broke a piece off, holding it over to him.
"Here, eat," she told him.
Dev folded his fingers over hers and she smiled contentedly, a soft glow in her eyes, but instead of bringing the morsel to his own lips he turned her hand round and pushed it towards her. She frowned at him in puzzlement and refused to take it.
"Dev, what is this?" she asked him.
"I won't eat until you do," he told her firmly.
"Paar Dev..." she began, half-laughing, half-surprised.
"Kaajjal please eat," he implored her. "I won't be happy until you do. I mean it, I won't touch a mouthful before you."
The very thought of Dev going hungry filled her heart with dread and without a further word she took the paratha from his hand. Seeing her chew made his face soften into an adoring smile, making his brown eyes glimmer with that fascinating light that always took her breath away. Satisfied that she was going to eat he took a paratha onto his plate and started his own meal. Kaajjal watched him in awe, losing herself in gazing at his face. With his hair still slightly tumbled from sleep and the shadow of stubble along his jaw line he looked rugged yet handsome and when the sunlight glinted across his eyes they glowed as if two flames had ignited in them. What captivated her the most was seeing the expression of enjoyment in the lines of his face as he ate. It comforted her heart to know that he was taking care of himself for once. Much as she delighted in his concern for her there was a greater worry in her mind and that was that in looking after her health he was neglecting his own. That was why she got annoyed with him when he fussed over her too much. If only once he would remember himself, she thought at those times.
Just then Dev happened to glance up and saw her sitting with her hands folded under her chin, watching him with that far away glow in her eyes. He frowned and snapped his fimgers under her nose, making her jump back to the present. She shook her head and looked at him with wide, astonished eyes. A mirthful grin was on his lips, bringing out his dimples, and his eyes were shining with amusement as he gestured with his hand in enquiry.
"Where were you lost?" he asked her.
She shook her head with a smile and began to eat. When the breakfast was over she rose and took the plates to the sink before Dev could protest. He rose to his feet and watched her with increasing alarm as she scurried here and there. He desperately wanted to say something to her but she ensured her couldn't by chattering away to him the whole time about his work and what she had prepared for his lunch. Every now and again he would open his mouth but seeing this she would just raise her voice and he would have to bite his tongue, though inside he was writhing with anxiety. The more she spoke the more out of breath she seemed to be getting and at last Dev had to grab her by the shoulders and meet her surprised gaze with his stern eyes.
"Dev, choro mujhe!" she laughed. "I have to get ready for class."
"Class?" he repeated incredulously. "Kaajjal, aaj nahin. Kal kuch bhi hua uss ki baad..."
"I have to go Dev," she interrputed him. "It won't be for much longer now and I promise you if I feel unwell I will come straight home."
As she said this she managed to free herself from his grip and she turned away to gather more stuff of the table. Dev's frustration was building up inside him like air gathering in a balloon and he had to restrain himself from marching her into the room and locking her in. Breathing deeply he tried to talk calmly to her, running an agitated hand through his hair as she skipped blithely about.
"Kaajjal, mere baat sunno," he pleaded. "Dekho, I never said don't go back to school, lekin aaj? Zaroori kya hai?"
"There is no need Dev, bas meri marzi," she responded breezily. "Aur waise bhi, what would I do here all day? Sit about? I have plenty of time for that yet. It's good for the baby to get out too."
"Lekin Kaajjal..." he began.
"Lekin lekin kuch nahin Dev!" she cried, walking away as her temper began to increase. "I'm going, bas! Aur you can say whatever you want; it won't make a difference to me. I know when I am well and when I am sick and I feel fine. There is nothing..."
Just then she let out a little cry of startlement and she placed a hand on her stomach, her eyes widening and her mouth falling open. Dev's heart slammed in his chest and a cold shiver of fear rushed down his spine, chilling his blood. He turned pale and all he could do was watch Kaajjal hold her stomach, that stricken look on her face. He had never seen that expression on her face and it made his heart contract into a tight ball of fear. Every nerve in his body screamed at him to move, but all he could do was stand there, his fear stalking across his limbs and laying its icy fingers on them, paralysing him. Kaajjal gave another of her strange cries and waved her hand at him, as if beckonening him, her eyes widening all the time. It was the jolt he needed and with a thumping heart he bounded towards her, crying out frantically,
"Kaajjal!"
A cliffhanger ending for a change 😃 Hope you all enjoyed it and please do leave a comment for me. I'm always so touched by the lovely words you write in response 😊 Oh, and do excuse my Hindi if it's gone haywire - it's my cold's fault! 😆
Anu 😳
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
