Part 7: Making Changes
The faces said it all. Shock. Annoyance. Fear. It's as if they were hearing the most improbable thing in the world.
Kala jumped in, "Bhao, tu kya keh rahe hain? Naku aur ap?"
Dutta said "Ha, tayi. Main ne bahut socha is barre mein."
Kala tried to reason with Bhao, making sure not to push Dutta to hard as to invite his wrath, which in and of itself was both awesome and terrifying. "Yeh ladi ne Supriya ko bhagaya, dhoka diya...and you trust her?" her eyes narrowed at the purposefulness of each word. "Uska chera--everything is a game to trap you...like before." Kala looked at AS pleadingly.
As AS thought carefully about what she should say, Dutta said "Naku azaad nahi hain. Yeh shaadi, main manta hu. Aur main ne faisla bana diya hain." he said, as he looked at them, and then he rested his eyes on Kala. Kala could see that his decision was final, that this was not the time or the place to continue this discussion. She looked at Kishore angrily, as if he had brought this whole situation about.
"Thik hain. Teri kushiyan subse important hain." Kala said insincerely. So Naku had used her beauty to win Dutta, Kala thought. She was not going to let this happen. This naukrani become raj of the house."
Dutta tried to reassure his family, but his efforts were wasted and the damage was done. All of them put on their false smiles, false airs of concern, and performed in front of him.
After dinner, Dutta went back to his office and room. He and Baji talked about Anna, the gameplan, the absolute necessity his death had become. Baji had wanted to bring up Naku, but thought better of it. Dutta seemed in no mood to talk more about his decision.
After Baji left, Dutta lay on his bed once again, hoping to get some rest. He looked to his side, and it was empty. He wanted Naku to be there, but he understood that they had some things to work through between themselves first. Dutta considered himself married to Naku, committed to her and to their marriage. And he knew that Naku always felt the same way.
Unable to get proper sleep, Dutta awoke in the middle of the night, and made his way to the balcony. He saw Naku below, and stood there gazing at her. His lover and now wife. Without further thought, Dutta joined her in the garden. When Naku saw him approaching her, it's as if she went into another world. Her eyes absorbed him, all of him, and nothing else seemed to exist. She smiled, rushed towards him, and stood before him. She put both her hands on his chest and touched his body with her body. Dutta was surprised, but just as naturally put his arms around her. He held her and thought of how she and he always seemed to find each other.
Naku and Dutta walked around the garden, not leaving each other's side. They spoke of their feelings, of being back at the niwas. Dutta said nothing about Naku's true face. Like the first time she revealed herself to him, she saw him appreciate her--all of her. After a few quiet moments, Dutta brought up the one topic they had avoided--unconsciously perhaps--their marriage. Dutta said "Yeh rishta" he fumbled, but continued. "Naku, main manta hu." He looked at her to see if she understood the full implications of his sparing, few words. Naku looked at him and smiled, "Main bhi manti hu, sharur se." So with this short exchange, Naku and Dutta committed to a life with each other and to their love.
Dutta rose, and said to Naku, "araam kar, subhe baat karenge." He took his fingers, his palm and felt her face. In a few moments, they turned to walk back into the house.
Inside, they felt the awkwardness of separating, going to their separate rooms. It seemed as if in the niwas, their relationship was something else...something not allowed to be, something choked before it could be. They smiled at each other and separated for the night, both with thoughts of the other and a yearning weighing heavily on their minds.
It was one of the uncertainties he would have to deal with, Dutta thought. Naku was his wife, he believed in his marriage to her. But most of all, he wanted them to start their married life. Dutta lay in his bed, and thought about how to handle this situation, when sleep overtook him.
In the morning Dutta awoke to a sight that he wanted to wake up to everyday...his Naku, his wife. She was quietly arranging his clothes, organizing his desk. He sat in the bed watching her. He realized how he never could have enough of her, he was happy just looking at her. Naku turned to put something away in the armoire, and saw him looking at her. Her eyes jumped at the sight of him, elated, as if seeing something beautiful for the first time, and she smiled. "Ither ao Naku" he said, raising his hand for her to hold. She held his hand, and sat next to him in bed. Dutta asked her about how she was feeling with everything, if there was anything on her mind. Naku said she was happy, and shyly added that he was the reason for her happiness. She told Dutta that Bapa had blessed her by bringing him into her life. Dutta listened silently to her words, in awe at just how much she loved him. And in awe that he, Dutta Sriram Patil, made her happy.
Naku tried to get up from the bed, but Dutta pulled her back to him. He wanted her to stay close to him. Both looked at each other, lost in their thoughts, their need for each other. And it was at this point, that Dutta and Naku realized that something was happening. And neither wanted to stop it. Dutta touched her hair and undid her braid. Naku's long hair fell around her. And so it began.
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Hope you enjoyed part 7.
Edited by gp00 - 15 years ago
