Hey Guys, I am back with another part. It is pure fiction with no relation to reality. I hope you all like it. Happy Reading❤️
Chapter 4
Massage
In the scorching heat of summer of Lucknow, Kulshrestha Bhawan at 3:00 pm was often quiet. The heat drained the ever-energetic family. The elders slept away the heat, the younger ones often chilled together. Today something was different. The whole family was crowded in Anu's room. A distressed Gungun lay weeping on her bed. The whole family was tense seeing Gungun's condition. They had tried various tricks from dancing to singing and storytelling to cheer Gungun but were unsuccessful.
A weary Dr. Riddesh and Garima entered the Kulshreshta's house. They were welcomed by a serious Chavi. This morning they received a call from a stressed Goli asking to come to their house soon. They were led by Chavvi to Gungun's room. They entered to see a wailing Gungun surrounded by the whole family trying to please her. One had chocolates, another teddy one person had a plate full of her favorite food while one had her favorite dress. Garima quickly went near the bed. As soon as Gungun saw her, she jumped into her aunt's arms and started weeping loudly. Garima stood bewildered caressing her hair.
"Gungun kya baat hai beta? Tumhari Goli Bua bta rahe the ki tum subah se roo rahi ho?! Chalo apne Papa ko btao kya hua hai? Bacche bolo kya hua warna tumhare ye papa tension se bimaar ho jayenge!"
Gungun left from Garima's hold and opened her arms for her father to take her in his arms. Dr. Riddhesh quickly took her invitation and laid her comfortably in his lap rocking her like a small baby. All were awed seeing their bond but this did not lessen their worry.
"Gungun ab to tmhare papa or Bua bhi aa gye hai beta unhe hi bta do kya baat hai. Dr. Sahab humlog to subah se puchre ki kya baat hai, par ye hai ki kuch bta hi nahi rahi!" the patriarch of the family uttered helplessly.
"Haan subah se royi jaa rhi humaar beti.. pata nahi kaa takleef howat hai. Humse nahi dekha jaa raha ji Kuch kariye na!" added the eldest lady of family.
"Anubhav kahan hai? Dikhai nahi de raha?" enquired Garima on not finding Anu.
"Garimaji! Anu to char din se institute me hi hai. Uska koi international conference chlra to ussi me busy rehta hai. Subah sham phone krk haalchal le leta hai ya agr time mila to khaana khaane aa jata bas. Infact subah hi uski baat hui thi Gungun se."
"Kahi baccho ne apas me koi jhagda to nahi kar liya?" Dr. Riddesh put forward his doubt. Anugun fights were not hidden from their family.
"Nahi nahi! Iss bar aesa kuch nahi lagta. Anu ne jab subah call kiya tha tb Gungun ne usse normally baat ki thi. Infact uske baad usne humare saath breakfast bhi kiya. Pata nahi achanak se kya ho gaya!" chimed in Yug
"Haan Bhaisaab Gungun bitiya ne to aaj humara gaana bhi nahi suna. Hum sab kase puchne ki koshish kar rahe wo kuch bol hi nahi rahi isiliye aapko bulana pda." Chandru added.
"Aee Golu Anu ko phone kare kya?" asked a jittery Goli.
"Arre Nahi Anubhav kaam me busy hoga. Khamakha pareshan ho jayega. Hum sab hai na Gungun ko sambhalne ke liye." Dr, Riddhesh tried to calm the family. He did not know whether to be happy seeing this family love Gungun so much or be sad seeing his daughter's condition.
What followed was three hours of a collective effort by Gungun's family to calm her down. At 6:00 pm all sat worn out sipping tea in the hall. Dr. Riddhesh had left due to a sudden emergency. All sat trying to guess the reason for Gungun's pain
"Mujhe lagta hai hume Anubhav ko khabar kar dena chahiye! Kahi wo gussa na ho jaye ki humne usse btaya nahi"
"Par Garimaji wo jaan ke bhi kya karlega? Waese bhi wo kuch daer me aata hi hoga."
"Haan Goli didi bilkul thik keh rahi hai. Aap fikr mat kijiye wo b..."
"Anu bhaiya aa gye." announced Khushi.
A tired Anu came inside the house. He took the blessings of elders and settled on the bench. He was curious seeing all so quiet and tensed.
"Kya baat hai sablog itne stressed kyu lag rahe. Mujhe dekh k khushi nahi hui kya? Or Gungun kahaan h?"
"Ohho koi kisiko miss kar raha! Hmm hmm " Golu chacha tried to lift the mood.
"Aee Golu chup! Wo Anu darasal Gungun na subah se room me hi baethi hai na kuch bol rahi hai na neeche aa rahi hai."
"Kya? Kya hua Gungun ko?" asked a scared Anu.
"Pata nahi subah se roo rahi na kuch kha rahi na kuch pi rahi hai. Tujhe kuch pata hai nahi." All were eyeing him hopefully.
"Nahi badi mummy subah meri baat huithi tab to thik thi."
"Pata nahi beta hum sab ne bahut koshish ki magar kuch nahi hua. Tu jaa tu bhi try krle."
"Ji!"
Anubhav ran to the stairs and reached his room in record time. The Golu gang followed him. He opened the door to the room totally dark with only a speck of light coming from the bed. He entered to see Neeti bhabhi sleeping on the bed while putting her hand over a lump inside the blanket - the source of light.
Anubhav stealthily went near Gungun and silently whispered.
"Gungun?" He lifted the blanket to see a red-nose, puffed, and wet cheeks Gungun sprawled watching something in her phone. She let out a teary smile seeing Anubhav and instantly hugged him engulfing half of him in the blanket. She tightened her arm around his waist. Anu smiled awkwardly while looking here and there. He felt a bit shy with her display of affection in front of all. Neeti joined the Golu gang after he power nap. They were happy with Anugun progress. They settled themselves in the bed for the show with their favorite couple.
"Kya hua? Gungun please Bahar aao?" He heard a sniffle from inside and after some ruffling of sheets a teary-eyed Gungun emerged. Seeing her face Anu started to panic imaging various scenarios in his head. Was she hurt? Did somebody say anything to her?
She was crying. Her eyes and red nose were watery. Her face was swollen from excessive crying. In short, she looked like a cute kicked puppy.
"Kya baat hai Gungun batao mujhe" Silence.
"Accha ek kaam karte hai. Tum jaake fresh ho jao. Kuch khate hai fir hum baate karenge okay"
"Mujhe nahi khana!" crocked Gungun. Anu winced listening to her voice. He signaled the Golu gang to help.
"Please Gungun Anu ke ye baat manlo. Wo bechara abhi thaka hara aaya hai. Paani tak nahi piya usne or dauda dauda tmhare pass chala aaya. Dekho kitna thaka lag raha hai. Main tum dono k liye abi nashta le aati hoon. Okay!"
Gungun observed Anu's face to actually see him dead tired. His red eyes and dark circles indicated his tiredness.
"Tumne sacchi kuch nahi khaya"
Anu moved his head in a 'No'
"Okay Fine! Main nashta karlungi but sirf nashta okay !!"
*****
Gungun came out of the bathroom and slumped on the bed like a kicked puppy. Anu huffed and took the plate while shaking his head. He took a morsel and started feeding her.
"Ab btaogi baat kya hai?"
Gungun eyed the audience nervously.
"Anu hume kuch kaam hai hum chalte hai. Tumlog continue karo.Chalo Chalo"
The Golu gang disappeared in a snap.
"Chalo abb btao kya hua hai. Maine sunna tum subah se roo rahi ho? Na kuch khaya hai na kuch piya?" Anu asked settling beside Gungun after sending everyone out.
"Pehle promise karo tum mera mazzak nahi udaoge?" Gungun was staring at him with hope and doubt
"Nahi udaunga ab bolo" relented Anu.
"Nahi pehle God promise kro" Gungun forwarded her palm waiting for him to seal the deal.
"Okay baba God promise," Anu said while pinching his throat. He grabbed her palm and pulled her close to him. Anu could see her trying hard not to smile. He was at ease now. Maybe it was nothing serious. Gungun settled herself against Anu's shoulder.
"Vicky" she whispered
What? Now, who was this Vicky? He already knew about Ranvijay who is this new piece in his wife's life now.
"Kaun Vicky?" gritted out Anu already imaging beating this faceless Vicky for troubling his wife
"Vicky Kaushal..." Gungun whispered clinging onto him tightly hiding her face "ne Katrina se shadi karli."
Okay, what? Anu stood still. Gungun pulled herself back to see his face. She breathed a sigh of relief seeing his emotionless face. Anu was trying his level best not to laugh out loud. God this girl! This stupid beautiful girl in his arms. She had once told him about her ultimate crush on Vicky Kaushal in one of their innumerable fights. Seeing her apprehensive stare, he softened. For now, he had to handle his baby wife.
Gungun gently tugged his sleeves to show him the wedding picture. He was blown away by her innocent and pure gestures.
"But tumne to pata tha that he was in a relationship with Katrina. Infact tumhi ne to bataya tha mujhe. Fir ye sab kyu?"
"Mujhe pata hai but relationship or marriage different hoti hai na. Jab ye news mujhe mili, main apna reaction control hi nahi kar payi! He was my first crush.. or fir main rone lagi or fir sab log tensed ho gaye. Baad me mujhe realise hua ki main kitni stupid behave kar rahi hu. Ye soch soch ke mujhe or rona aa raha tha. Isliye maine kisiko kuch nahi bataya. Sab mujhe chidhate fir or stupid bhi samjhte." complained Gungun.
"Arre koi kyu chidhata tumhe?"
"Ek baar bachpan me apni mom ko issi tarah apne favorite cartoon character ke baare me bataya tha to unhone ne mujhe bahut daata or stupid bhi kaha. Baad me sabke saamne mere mazaak udaya tha. Main khub royi thi or pata hai isiliye mere friends mujhe crybaby bulate the. Mujhe nahi accha lagta tha. Isliye main aesi baate kisiko nahi btati not even dad kyunki koi mujhe smjhta hi nahi hai sab bas mazaak me uda dete hain. " Gungun sat blabbering away. Anu melted. He felt so protective of her. How dare anyone insult and make his Gungun cry! He wanted to teach a lesson to her mom and those useless friends.
"Fir tumne mujhe kyu batai ye baat?" asked a solemn Anu
"Kyu tum to mujhe already stupid smjahte ho na and you are my husband isliye tumse kya sharamana."
Anu quickly pulled his wife for a hug. He sat basking in her warmth. He silently promised himself to be always there for her
"Dekho Gungun!Aaj ek promise pact kare?"
"Promise pact?"
"Hmm! ek promise main tumse karunga or badle mein tum mujhe ek promise dogi. What's say?"
"Cool!"
Anu took Gungun small hand in his large ones.
"Okay so main tumse ye promise karta hoon ki main sabke samne tumhara mazzak nahi udaunga. Par tumhe ye promise karna hoga ki tum mujhse apne dil ki choti si choti baat even if wo tumhe stupid lage share karogi. Ye chidhane ke darr se koi bhi baat apne man me nahi rakhogi.! Okay?"
"I promise. Yayy aaj se we are secret partners."
"To chale neeche!"
"Haan"
Gungun stood up quickly to feel a sharp pain in her head. She held her head trying to ease it.
"Mere sir me bahut dard ho raha hai. Main neeche nahi jaungi. Please Papa ko bula do."
"Par Gungun wo to abhi abhi gaye unko koi emergency aa gayi thi."
"Fir mera dard?"
"Accha rukko main tumhe humare ghar ki best sirdard ki dwai deta hoon wait."
Anu came back with a bottle of oil.
"Oil! Ewww mujhe oiling karna pasand nahi hai. "
"Chup bilkul jab dekho har baat pe dawai dawai are mana tmhare parents doctor hai magar iska matlab ye to nahi ki tum har baat ke liye dawai khaogi. Pata usse kitna nuksaan hota hai. "
"Fine main oiling krwa lungi. But kya tumhe baalo me oil lagana aata hai"
"Tum as dekhti jao Ms, Tubelight"
Gungun punched Anu in mock anger and sit on the floor while Anu adjusted himself on the bed just at her back. Gungun sat comfortably while praying to God to save her from this chashmish terror.
Anu took the clip off the hair and untangled the knots. He gently massaged her head with his fingertips and poured a little amount of oil. His hands circulated around her head while pressing along various points. He rubbed his oil-clad hand on her hair gently.
Gungun felt light-headed after sharing her worry. Anu's smooth movements along with his humming calmed her heart. Her headache started to vanish.
"Wow tum kitna accha massage karte ho. Itna fresh fell ho raa. Haan thoda right nahi thoda left hanhan bas wahi uhhh.. Kafi raaz chupa rakhe hai aapne Mister Husband."
"You will get to know them soon Miss Wifey"
They laughed together. Anu sat like that for about 10 mins continuously massaging her head. He winded up the massage session to see Gungun lolling in deep sleep while snoring lightly. He carefully laid her down in bed. He was moving away when he saw her disturbed face. He sat beside her softly patting Gungun to dream. Anu soon fell into a deep slumber.
******
It had been nearly an hour since the couple was left alone. All were eager to know about Gungun well being. They decided to check. Golu gang came to the room and were relieved watching the scene. A content Gugun was sleeping with a slight smile while latching onto Anu's arm almost laying on him while Anu was out cold.
"Dekho yahan hum kitne pareshan ho rahe or ye araam se soo rahe hai." complained a smiley Golu
"Hayye kisi ki nazar na lage dono ko kaese baccho jaese so rahe hai ! Kitne pyaar lag rahe hai saath me."
"But Gungun soo kaese gayi? Humlog subah se try kar rahe the wo rona hi nahi band kar rahi thi abhi shanti se soo rahi? Aesa kya jadu kiya hai Anu ne."
"Arre Chachu ye pyaar, ishq mohabbat ka jadu hai. Aap nahi samjhoge. Chalo neeche sabko bata dete hai."
Neeti warded evil eyes off her two babies. She was relived seeing Gungun okay. She thanked the gods and prayed for their happiness.
X--------------------------X
This sums up this part. I hope you like it. Please ignore typos and grammatical errors and do leave your thoughts and comment. Will be back with the next part soon.
Edited by MinMIN2 - 3 years ago