The devastating and treacherous journey had finally come to an end. A serene and peaceful happiness nestled in my chest as I watched everyone seated in the living hall, chatting away to their hearts' content. Daadi and Taiji were debating with Daasi and Rachna about the upcoming climax of a certain Kumkum Bhagya soap. Meanwhile, Purab and Aakash were discussing about signing a few new contracts and concerts.
A soft hand gently curled over mine as a warm body filled the space next to me. I smiled without turning to look at the person because I was well aware of the owner. "How are you feeling? ", her face clouded with worry, again. But before I could say anything, the doorbell rang. The chatters died immediately, and we wondered about the identity of the visitor. "Koi baath nahi Rachu, I'll see who it is.", Pragya said.
If it is anyone from the company asking for him, I'll twist their ears and send them on their way, I thought to myself. Only now has he recovered and I want to be with him. Gingerly opening the door, I saw a worried, yet familiar face staring at me. "Bulbul?", I sounded surprised. "Hi Di.", she said quietly. "Mein tum aa rahe the patha nahi tha.", I hugged her. "Mein Purab bataya tha, lekin is it bad timing?", she asked me.
"Nahi, sab kuch theek hai.", I smiled at her. "Aur Jiju?", she asked as soon as I finished. "He hates me na? Mein nahi aana chahiye. He wouldn't want to see me. I won't take much time Di, I'll just apologize and leave. I don't want my presence to create a rift between you and Jiju. Sirf five minutes.", she said in a swift pace without pausing. "Bulbul, get a hold of yourself baccha.", I said gently rubbing her shoulders.
"Nahi Di. I know Jiju is mad at me, yet I messaged Purab this morning that I'm coming and didn't bother finding out what the situation was like. Mujhe maaf kar do Di. Mein ghaar jaana chahiye.", she sputtered aimlessly without giving me a chance to process anything. "Araam se, ek minute.", I held her cheeks. "Your Jiju...", I began when a deep voice completed my sentence. "Is angry with you.", a voice echoed behind us.
Whirling around, I saw him standing with hands in his pockets, staring at us with narrowed eyes. The colour drained from Bulbul's face and my throat closed. "Suniye..", I forced out. "Jiju...", Bulbul squeaked, clutching the strap of her sling bag tightly. He approached and joined us at the doorway, his tall physique hovering over us. "What am I going to do with the both of you?", he asked a question and broke into a warm smile.
We gapped at him with goldfish eyes. "Jiju, please mujhe nafarat nahi karte. I'm sorry. Di and Daadi dragged me into it and I couldn't back out. Daadi ne mujhe vaada karta hoon.", she started crying like a child. His expression softened and he stepped forwards, encircling my sister in his arms. She clung to him and sobbed harsh cries into his chest. I leaned on the door frame and watched them like a shadow.
"Bulbul, suno, I understand why you did all the drama with your Di, my Daadi and Purab. Your aim and motive was right, but the path and method of execution all of you chose was wrong. Mein tumse naraz tha, but I'm more disappointed and hurt that even you, my bubbly Saali, lied and hid the truth from me. Lies can save you for a short span of time, but it will be stripped naked, wrecking everything along the way.", he said.
"I have been burned with that notion many times, so take it from me. Agli bar, if there is a problem, mujhe batao. If your Di is a fuss pot and a promoter for keeping issues under wraps, just ignore her. That goes for Purab as well. I'm here na? I'll solve problems in an express way like DHL. I'm a pro and my previous track records prove it. So, tum mujhse vaada kar sakte hain?", he cupped her cheeks.
"Mein vaada karta hoon Jiju. Mein kisi ko nahi sunega. If I hear of a problem, you'll be the first to know the details. I promise. Pinky promise.", she said holding out her little finger. "Accha, it's our pinky promise.", he laughed and wrapped his little finger around hers. I giggled through my tears and sought an added dose of pleasure at the beautiful bond they shared. It made me jealous, even though I was his biwi.
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Mehra Mansion
"Suniye!", I shrieked at him. He had tightly secured me against his body by my waist. "Ey Chashmish!", he matched my raised tone as I helplessly struggled to free myself. "Chashmish? Dekhiye, der ho rahi hai. I have to help Rachu make breakfast, give Daadi her medicines, help Taiji send the bacchas to school and wake Purab, he's got an important meeting today.", I laid down my morning duties to my better half.
"They can wait.", he said carelessly. Softly, he nuzzled into the nape of my neck and jammed my senses in an instant. Closing my eyes, emotions of desire bubbled in the pit of my belly and all I wanted to do was let those feelings erupt. However, a frenzied laughter downstairs snapped me out of my trance. "Suniye, dekha the kids are awake. Mujhe jane do na! Please!", I begged him and felt his hands loosen immediately.
His sudden gesture filled me with confusion and I turned to see him siting on the bed with a glum expression. "Fine, jao and attend to everyone.", came a cold reply and my heart sank. Edging towards him, I sat next to him and nudged his shoulder. "You don't care about me.", he said and I resisted the urge to laugh. No matter how famous he was, at the end of the day, he was a baby and that too, my baby. God! How I love him.
"Suniye, you mean the world to me.", I linked my arm through his. "But, I'm also a bahu na? I can't ignore our family.", I calmly told him. "I missed you Fuggy.", a small reply came. "You don't think I missed you more? Theek hai, let's do time management. I'll finish my household chores and you complete all your work, in the mornings and afternoons, then we can have the evenings and nights to ourselves", I said cheerfully.
"Pakka promise?", his face lit up. "Fuggy promise.", I laid my head on his shoulder. He was my safe haven, a place where I could just be myself and let my guards down. Straightening myself, I found him smiling at me. Slowly, he wrapped me in his arms, but I didn't resist. The duties could wait a few minutes. "Accha, go and get ready. You have a meeting in a few hours.", I whispered. "Theek hai Fuggy.", he kissed my cheek.
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"Pragya! Rachna!, tum dhono khaya hai?", Daadi called out, looking up from her book. "Haan Daadi!", I popped my head out of the kitchen. "Di, would you mind finishing the dishes? I need to feed Ajay.", Rachna asked me. "Arre, you haven't fed him?! Jao jao, ise mere upaar chor do.", I shooed her away. There wasn't much left in the sink as the silly girl had done the major washings already.
Wiping my hands on my duppatha, I walked out and joined our budhiyas on the sofa. "So, when will we see you hustling like Rachu?", came a sudden question. "Daadi, mujhe samajh mein nahi aata.", I frowned in confusion. "Didi, I thought our bahu was a quick learner!", whined Daasi. "Arre Indu, go easy on her. The past few months have not been a walk in the park na?", Daadi reminded and the bitter memories pricked me.
"Pragya beta, I'll come straight to the point.", Daadi smiled at me and I smelt something brewing in that curved lips of hers. "When are you and Abhi going to hand us our little bundle of joy?", her voice was crystal clear. "It's about time we had a chotte rockstar in the house.", Daasi supported her. The world stopped spinning as it dawned on me what they were asking. A lump formed in my throat as I struggled to calm my nerves.
Bundle of joy? Chotte rockstar? The problems which plagued our lives had overshadowed my dreams of having a family with the man who created those dreams. Suniye. I never shared my feelings with him, but I wanted to bear his child. Tanu's alleged lies had broken me and I felt my wish ripped out of me, crushing my soul. The dreams faded into the fog, and I never rekindled them. Now, it was different.
"Someone's gone all red like a tomato!", came a melodious voice and we looked up to see Rachu holding a rollie pollie Ajay. "Rachu!", I gritted at her while trying to hide my embarrassment. "Offo Didi, dekha? She's blushing as if she is already pregnant!", Daasi added fuel. "Kya?! Is it true?!", Daadi panicked in puzzlement. "Nahi Daadi, it's not true.", I rubbed my arms as if protecting myself.
"Suno Ajay? Your Chachi said it's not true. You, Bunty aur Babli won't have a new playmate.", Rachna said with a pout to my chubby nephew. I blushed even more, but saw a saddened look on my budhiyas faces. "Daadi, Daasi", I went down on my knees before them. "I said it's not true, but I didn't say it will never be true.", I shyly said, holding their hands together. Their eyes shot up when I finished.
"Daadi, fate has been cruel in preventing me from sharing my dreams with the man I live for. Even now, we haven't spoken about starting a family, because we are just happy to be in each other's arms at last. But, it has always been my wish to have a small parivaar.", I trailed off. "Pragya.", Daadi's wrinkled yet soft hand touched my burning cheek. "I'll speak to him.", I smiled and held her hand.
"Do you need a helping hand?", Daasi asked me out of concern. "Nahi Daasi, a child comes with immense delight, as well as responsibilities and sacrifices. I don't want him to think I'm prioritizing our future child over him. My happiness lies with him. Without him, I'm dust, disappearing in a matter of seconds with the winds. All I want is to spend my life with him and give him life's most precious moments.", I finished.
Bringing in a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart walking outside your body. My heart? It was him, always has been. But a certain little rockstar will take complete control as the nine months pass in a sea of conflicting emotions. Suniye. My big rockstar. How would he take it? Possessiveness was a sublime trait he harbored. Will he agree or postpone it?
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Shiv Shakti
Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
Cricket
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