Hey all, I'm back with my next installment 😃 Thank you to everyone who commented on my first piece - I really appreciate all your lovely words. This is much longer - I hardly realised I had written so much! 😕 😆 Hope you all don't mind. Here it is:
Chapter 2 - "Romance In the Rain"
The air was thick with the rich scent of chai and honey as early the next morning Kaajjal prepared breakfast. On the radio a song the melodic voice of a female vocalist crooned away, singing about eternal love. Absently Kaajjal found herself humming along, finding some resonance in the timeless words. The lilting tune filled her mind and seemed to speak to her of her own love for Dev. A contented smile curved her lips and her eyes shone brightly as she boiled the chai in the pan. She was enjoying finally being able to be a normal wife in a normal household. It had never occurred to her before just how much pleasure could be derived from merely caring out small domestic chores. Just making breakfast for Dev and imagining how he would smile at her when he woke to see it gave her a deeper sense of fulfilment than she had ever known. For the first time in many months she was truly happy and she revelled in the sensation, wanting to prolong it forever. She knew all too well how suddenly and unexpectedly happiness could be snatched from you; it had happened to her back in Mumbai and always in the back of her mind was that same haunting fear that it could happen again.
Shaking off these chilling thoughts she poured the chai into the cups, placed the toast and honey on the breakfast tray and gathered it up in her arms. When she walked into the bedroom Dev was still fast asleep, wrapped tightly in the duvet and oblivious to her presence. Smiling fondly Kaajjal placed the breakfast tray down on the bedside table and carefully sat down on the edge of the bed so that she could watch Dev sleeping for a few moments. One of her favourite pass times was to sit perfectly still and gaze at Dev. It was in these moments that she felt an overwhelming sense of awe that he was really her husband. For so long she had dreamed of being close to him but now that she was she could hardly believe her dreams had been fulfilled. Sitting watching him sleep now she found herself captivated by how peaceful he looked. His chest rose and fell gently and now and again his eyes twitched as a dream fluttered across them. There was a touch of vulnerability about him which Kaajjal knew he kept hidden from the rest of the world and it filled her with wonderment to know that she alone saw this side of him.
Just then she happened to glance over at the clock and was surprised to see how far advanced the morning was already. It was nearly nine and there was so much she wanted to get done today. Turning back to Dev she ran her fingers through his hair and tried to wake him gently.
"Dev," she said softly, "Time to get up. I made breakfast."
He merely gave a small grunt and carried on sleeping. Pursing her lips Kaajjal shook her head in despair at him. Leaning on her elbows she placed her lips close to his ear and said in a louder, more commanding tone,
"Dev jaldi utho."
Again he grunted and rolled over, pulling the cover further up around him. Kaajjal sat upright with an indignant expression and a determined sheen in her eyes.
"Right, you aksed for it," she said under her breath.
Rising she crossed noiselessly to the window and threw the shutters wide open, letting in a rush of cool morning air. Turning back she walked over to the bottom of the bed and grabbing the end of the duvet yanked it off Dev with all her strength. In an instant he shot upright, the cold sweeping over him as the cover was pulled away and making him shiver. Kaajjal let out a delighted laugh and grinned down at him as he blinked sleepily up at her. His hair was tousled and flopping down about his ears like the mane of a pony and his eyes were still dark from his slumber. He looked incredibly handsome and Kaajjal felt a quickening of her pulse as she stared back at him. He fixed her with an accusing look and frowned like a petulant child.
"What did you do that for?" he demanded grumpily.
"Oh-ho! Someone's in a mood!" she giggled. "Here," she added, picking up a cup and handing it out to him. "Tere liye chai. It will warm you up."
She couldn't resist grinning impishly at him, her eyes sparkling gleefully. Dev reached out to take the cup but she pulled it back, arching her brows mischievously at him.
"No, no, no," she cried. "Not until I get a good morning kiss."
"And why should I give you a kiss when you so rudely woke me up?" he asked her, sounding grumpy but with a playful light in his eyes.
"Kyunki mai tumhari patni hoon," she replied, winking at him.
She pointed to her cheek with a finger, grinning broadly at him. Before she knew what was happening Dev had grabbed the cup from her other hand, placed it down and pulled her down onto the bed.
"Dev!" she cried, breathless and stunned.
"Kya?" he asked innocently, running a finger down her cheek. "Mai tumhara pati hoon."
"Dev!" she replied coyly, blushing a deep crimson and gazing at him from under her lashes.
His dark eyes twinkled with glee as he grinned down at her and as he leaned closer she felt her heart skip a beat in expectation. Closing her eyes she held her breath and waited for his lips to touch hers. Instead he kissed her forehead and then sprang up again, taking the cup and sipping contentedly from it as she opened her eyes and looked up at him in astonishment. He arched his eyebrows devilishly at her, his eyes full of impish delight.
"Chai bahut accha," he told her.
"Dev...tum bhi na!" she cried, sitting up and hitting him playfully on the arm.
He laughed and placed a hand on the side of her head, gazing intently into her eyes. This one action made her heart leap and she stared back at him in awe, wondering why he had such a magic hold on her that even after being in love with him so long he still could make her feel that rush of anticipation.
"Always wake me up like this," he said to her. "I want to see you every morning when I open my eyes."
"And so you shall!" she declared, springing up from the bed and walking across to the dressing table. She took up her sindoor and smiling impishly looked over her shoulder at him. "Even when I'm old and wrinkled and resemble the goats in the field you'll still have to see me."
Laughing she turned back to the mirror. Dev walked up beind her and took the sindoor from her hand. Their eyes met in the mirror and as he spoke they continued to stare at each other's reflection.
"You will never be anything but beautiful," he told her, filling her maang.
Smiling she turned and hugged him tightly, closing her eyes to stop the tears that had risen to her eyes from falling. Dev curled his arms about her waist and buried his face in her hair, breathing in her sweet scent and savouring this intimacy. Neither of them said a word, they just held one another. When Kaajjal eventually pulled back her eyes were glistening with the unshed tears, the sight of which instantly concerned Dev. Frowning at her in anxiety he placed a finger to her lashes and caught a small droplet. His eyes were asking her a thousand questions but she didn't know how to answer him.
"Kaajjal, kya hua?" he asked her.
"Kuch nahin Dev," she replied, smiling at him. "Bas... Never mind. Look, it's a lovely morning. I thought we could go into then market and buy some vegetables for dinner."
"Ah, that's code for some bangles for you," he exclaimed, grinning at her and tweaking her nose. "Alright Mrs Singh, let's go."
Kaajjal gave him another despiaring look and then gathering up her handbag they set off for the market. It was not a particularly long walk, but they had only a small, grassy path to tread at first and this gave them the sense that the town centre was further away than it actually was. The morning was airy with a balmy heat in the sun, which warmed their skin, though the breeze was nippy. As they walked they talked about the scenery and Kaajjal pointed out the hill where she had often fled to as a child when she argued with her father. Dev listened in fascination as she described the hours spent lying gazing up at the fluffy white clouds as they rolled across the azure vista overhead. While she spoke there was an enchantment glowing in her eyes that he had rarely seen before, and he knew that lost in her childhood memories she was reliving a forgotten bliss. It made him glad that he had agreed to come here; anything that could restore his dear Kaajjal to her happiness he would accept, even if it meant living in a small town.
At last they reached the market and the daily huddle of housewives bartering with the stall holders pierced their lungs. They were loud and adamant and the screaming that some of them did caused Dev to look at them in fright. Seieng his eyes widen and the horror on his face Kaajjal had to stiffle a laugh. Poor Dev, she thought amusedly, he isn't used to dealing with ordinary people, how on earth will he cope if these aunties stop to chat to him. Linking her arm through his she steered him past the women and over to a quieter corner of the market. Here they were selling lucky charms and statuettes of the Gods and Goddesses. The stallholder was an old, wizened man, who's skin had been worn by the perpetual beating down of the sun. He spoke with a frail voice, yet his words had a lot of persuasion and effect in them.
"Yeh dekhiya memsahib," he addressed Kaajjal. "This is an amulet. It will ward off bure nazar."
Kaajjal took the small black thread with its silver pendant in her hands and turned it over, thinking of a similar amulet she had given Dev before his accident had nearly taken him from her.
"It is very powerful," the stallholder told her.
"I will take it," she agreed.
She handed over the money and turned to Dev with a bright smile.
"Yeh dijiye," she said.
"Yeh kya hai?" he asked as she tied it about his wrist.
"An amulet," she explained. "To always keep you safe. I know you have little faith in these things but after all that has happened recently I need to give this to you. You will always wear it won't you?"
He smiled at her and cupped her face with his hand. Gazing deeply into her eyes with solemnity he assured her that he would.
"I promise Kaajjal," he said. "I'll be back in a few minutes," he added.
"
kahan jaareho tum?" she asked him.
"Ah, all will be revealed," he answered myseriously.
Kaajjal shook her head at him as he walked off then smiling she wandered further down the stalls, running her eyes over their various items with interest. After ten minutes Dev returned, creeping up behind her. The first she knew of his arrival was when she felt someone slip something round her neck. Bemused she looked down to see a locket and she touched it wonderingly with her fingers. The sun caught it and it flashed a vivid silver, making her smile in delight.
"What do you think?"
She looked up to see Dev smiling at her, his eyes anxious and starely expectantly at her.
"Dev, it's beautiful," she told him, returning his smile. "But where was the need...?"
"I wanted to buy you something," he interrupted her. "That's all. I wanted to see your face light up with happiness and see that glow in your eyes. For me there's no greater joy."
Kaajjal's heart was racing and she felt a lump of emotion choking her throat, preventing her from speaking. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes and her lips trembled as she smiled back at him. His deep brown eyes shone with such intense love for her that it left her breathless and as he ran his fingers through her hair every nerve in her body tingled with thousands of tiny electric shocks.
Suddenly there was a loud clap of thunder, rolling out across the town and echoing furiously in the hills. Everyone simultaneously looked to the sky, which was now heavy with murky brown and purple clouds. In a matter of seconds the clouds unleashed their wrath on the world and heavy drops of rain came pelting down about the market. People started running for cover, some of the women even screaming as another ferocious peel of thunder rumbled around the town. Cold raindrops slashed into Dev and Kaajjal's skin, soaking them through. Dev took Kaajjal's hand and started to pull her away but she broke free and threw her head back, enjoying the sensation of the rain on her face. It was matting her hair and seeping through her sari, making it cling to her wet skin. Seeing this Dev felt a rush of passion and his heart began to pound so loudly that when the thunder groaned again he could not distinguish the two. Like a child Kaajjal began to laugh and forgetting herself in the euphoria of the rain shower she started to splash in and out of puddles. It didn't bother her that her feet were being muddied or that she was drenched. All she cared about was revelling in the storm. Turning she saw Dev through the thick sheet of rain, water running from his fringe and slipping down his face, making his skin glow. He looked simply irresistible with the rain soaking him and she beckoned to him to join her.
"Dev!" she called.
He came forward and took her hand.
"Come on Kaajjal, let's go," he said, "It's going to be a fierce storm."
"Dance with me," she requested.
Without waiting for a reply she swung round, twirling faster and faster so that the world rushed past her eyes in a dizzying circle. Dev pulled her towards him and she grabbed his shoulders to steady herself, laughing heartily. When she looked into Dev's face his eyes were intensely dark, like the storm clouds above, and there was a flame burning deep within them, simmering away as he gazed into her eyes. Her heart missed a beat and her breath caught in her throat as she recognised the expression in his eyes. Worlessly he lifted his fingers and brushed a strand of her wet hair back from her face. Every nerve in her body quivered and her heart started to race. Slowly he leaned towards her and kissed a drop of rain from her nose. A convulsing shiver of delight ran down her spine and she closed her eyes as her breathing deepened. Dev's lips touched her forehead and the softeness of them next to her wet skin made her sigh. Opening her eyes she looked up at him and saw the fire engulfing his eyes.
"Let's go," he said quietly.
Silently she slipped her hand into his and they ran through the rain back towards their little cottage, the thunder crashing about them. It wasn't until they raced through the door of the cottage that the first bolt of lightening streaked the sky, and then the storm finally broke all its wrath upon the town. Inside Dev and Kaajjal ignored the tempest, caught up in their own storm of emotions.
Do comment - I really want to know your opinions. Hope you liked it!
Anu 😃
Edited by nimmo20 - 17 years ago
