Chapter 40
A: uh!!
Maithili turned towards him and stared
A: I..wohā¦
Maithili could feel colour rise in her cheeks, she seemed to go reder by the minute.
M: you love me?
Adi loked even more shocked
He had no idea what to say..his mind froze and he couldn't think of anything
A: iā¦
He stumbled for a minut, then slowly released a nervous laugh
A: haha!! Adi stared laughingā¦
A: caught you there!
He said fakely laughing. Maithili stared at him. She couldn't understand himā¦was everything a big joke for him? Did he not know anything?? Did he not feel it!!! Hell I don't even feel anything!!! Ok maybe I do!! But that's natural!
Maithili faught in her mind on how much of a jerk Adi was, and how it was completely natural for her to be 'feeling' something. She turned away looking slightly hurt.
Adi felt like a heavy weight dropped in his stomach, he was feeling ever so guilty.
He himself didn't know why he said that.
A: uh maithiliā¦I didn't mean to hurt you..
Maithili slowly turned towards him and smiled..
She slowly laughed and spoke: you thought I was hurt didn't you!
M: well I caught you there didn't I!!
Adi smiled unsure and maithili smiled worried..
Both nodded and turned away.
xxxxx
The journey back was very quiet, almost unnatural. Both of them didn't speak to eachother even when they reached home. They were just so lost in their own worlds. When questioned, they would answer in monosyllables and not really concentrate on anything.
At dinner, adi sat opposite maithili and watched her nibble at her food. She seemed deep in thought (obviously about me!) adi thought smirking. Then she looked at him. Her face had no expression; she blinked once at him and turned back to her food.
Maithili closed her eyes and thought ā how can he do that!! why was he smirking!! Doesn't he understand!!! Hell even I don't understand!! What am I meant to understand!!! There IS nothing to understand!!!
Maithili frowned and opened her eyes. Everything was far too confusing for her to handle.
She got up and went upstairs quietly, without a word.
Shikhar questioned adi about this
S:beta, is everything alright?
A: noā¦umm I mean yes!
S: beta..
A: dad! Its just thatā¦umm she's a little angry with meā¦iā¦its nothing really! Justā¦ummā¦normal!
S: oh! Well beta, you better go and make it up to her!
Adi silently nodded and went upstairs.
Maithili stood in the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. She was behaving very differently, feeling very different. Even in the theatre, she would just suddenly grab adi's arm and then looked away.
Maithili turned the tap on and let the water flow out, filing the empty sink. That was exactly how she feltā¦empty and threatened by the water flowing in like a riverā¦who was the river that would fill her emptiness, her void?
Maithili shook her head and splashed the water on her face, allowing the crystal droplets to instantly cool her face. She wiped her face and stood there for a minute.
Adi sat on his bed thinking of what her said in the theatre. He had been to many films with his many girlfriends, but never felt this way when one of them caught his arm. Moreover, he had never, even uncnciously, said those three words to any of themā¦then why maithili? What was so special about her?
A: why did i say that? I didn't even think before saying it! That's what!! I wasn't thinking! If I were in my right mind I would have never said that!!
Maithli was pacing in the bathroom.
M: why did I feel so hurt when he laughed? Why did I feel, almost disappointed when he said it was a joke? Hey bhagwaan! Whats happening?? If I was in my right mind, I'd never react that way!! Yes!! That's it!! I wasn't in the right mind!! And if he ever tries to trick me again, then I'll never fall for it!
Maithili slowly came out of the bathroom and found adi lying on the bed.
She got on the bed and lay beside him turning the other way. Both thought about what happened in the theatre.
That was the weirdest feeling they both felt.
Both shook their heads and went off to sleep.
xxxxx
Deep in sleep, Maithili felt goosebumps risie up her arms when a gust of cool air brushed past. She shivered slightly and felt around for the blanket. She slowly opened her eyes, irritated that it was nowhere to be found. She turned to adi and saw he was comfortably covered in it. She grew angry, why did he have to have everything? The peaceful sleep, the blanket, the warmth??? Why? She frowned and grabbed it from adi, over herself.
Adi, now felt irritated and pulled the blanket back onto himself. Maithili grew more and more annoyed, she grabbed it again and Adi tugged back. This tugging and pulling continued for a few more minutes till Maithili was fully awake and annoyed
M: stop it! She said sitting up.
Adi sat up too and turned on the light.
M: just stop it! Whats your problem!! Why can't you let me sleep in peace!!
A; oh madam!! You started it!!
M no I didn't!! you did!!
A: you did!!
M: you!
A: you!!
M argh!!! You moron!!!
Adi made a face at her and sunk into his pillows, with the blanket over him.
M: I want it too!! you can't take it all for yourself!!! Like you do for everything!!
A: well then move closer!!
M: what!! you skunk!! That's the last thing on my mind!!
A: move closer to me!!
M: iā¦I'm not going to do that!!
A: Kyu? Tumhe lagta hai main tumhara izzat lootonga!!
M: shut-up!! Izzat lootonga!! As if!!!
A: fine then! Suit yourself! I'm sleeping peacefully with my warm blanket!
Adi switched off the light and shifted comfortably in bed, occasionally sighing and smiling. Maithili frowned, she was still sitting up feeling cold and annoyed. She picked up a pillow and hit him.
M: ugh! She moaned.
M: you selfish selfish boy!!!
She grunted and moved an inch closer to him. She grabbed the blanket and tucked herself in, beside Adi and slept with her back facing him.
This was the worst side-effect of marriageā¦not having a bed and a blanket to yourself!!!! Adi peeked at her and smirked.
He yawned and stretched, slowly, he put his arm round her waist. He smirked and snuggled close to her. Maithili shot her eyes open. She kicked him with her foot and he froze. He swallowed and lay still.
Maithili slowly turned round to him..
A: youā¦didn't have to kick near that part ā¦he whispered, still not recovering from the pain.
M: aahdiā¦do you still want to hold me? She asked fluttering her eyelashes at him.
Adi blinked painfully and shook his headā¦
Maithili blew him an air kiss and giggled.
Adi clenched his fist and curled into a ball
...To be continued
well here was a looong part! šwill post next
part on...hmmm......Saturday!š
Edited by tsamhita - 17 years ago