Fiction ' 7 '
It was a long day for Prithvi Saxena at work. He was knackered, starving and thirsty. He rolled up his sleeves and loosened his tie as he walked home. A hot shower, a quick bite and a good night's sleep is what I need, he told himself. He ran up the stairs two at a time, with a strange sense of excitement and exhilaration ...did he expect Damini to be waiting for him? Deny this however much, deep inside he knew he did.
He gently pushed open the door, the lights were on and Damini was sitting up on the bed reading a book. At the sound of the door she looked up and their eyes met and held. He could not tear his gaze off. She had been waiting all evening for him to return. She had picked up the phone several times to call him, but each time decided against it. She just looked on unable to take her eyes off his or break the gaze. The book in her hands slipped and fell on her lap and broke the reverie. She closed the book with the bookmark in place and got up. He stepped in and closed the door.
'Tum fresh ho jao...mai dinner yahin le aayi hoon'.
His eyes fell on the dinner trolley and his stomach groaned.
'Tum ne khana kha liya?' he quizzed walking up to the dressing table to leave a set of keys and his wallet. 'Nahin........Ha.......Woh....' her voice trailed off. He waited not turning back. 'Nahin' she said finally. She was waiting for me and waiting for dinner too. He smiled, as a warmth spread thru him, and at that moment he seemed to have forgotten all about fatigue or hunger.
'Main yun gaya aur yun aaya'. The glee in his voice and the glint in his eyes did not go unnoticed.
Dinner started in silence. Damini focused on the food in her plate and did not look up. Prithvi enjoyed the food, stealing glances at his wife sitting opposite. A smile played along his lips as he watched her. She looked beautiful with her hair tied up loosely, disarrayed strands brushing her shoulder and her forehead. Black is her color he thought, his mind wandering to when he first saw her in black.
'How was your day at work ?' brought him back to senses. 'Work...oh....don't ask...it was a hectic day. There is another tender from BT Company that needs to be submitted tomorrow. Morning flew in discussions and possible price negotiations. A few delegates from BT are here and we had discussions throughout the afternoon. They are very happy with our current performance and assured us more business. In fact they have elevated our status to 'Preferred Partners' and want us to take up 80% of the total work outsourced to India. These contracts would be direct and off the regular quotation process cycle. Am sure our quarterly results would top the charts this time........' he stopped only when he saw a strange look on Damini's face. Her eyes looked at him straight - admiration, pride, gratitude, joy ...he found a flash of everything in them. Work is definitely worship for this man, she mused. He went on about the other new proposals on hand and the support that Varun has been extending to get things done on time.
Dinner done, Damini pushed the trolley out of the room and left it on the corridor.
'I miss you Damini' his husky voice stopped her dead on her way to the washroom. The yearning in his voice shocked her, made her go weak. She knew if she looked back she would lose it. She could feel an ache forming in her heart, her limbs felt heavy as she dragged herself to the washroom and closed the door.
She did not know where the tears came from but they poured down without stop. What did she have to complain about this man, her husband. Did he really cheat on her ? He did what anybody else would have done under similar circumstances. Then what is she holding back for ? Did she decide to continue the relationship only because of her promise to mama ? Wasn't the bond much stronger than that ? She needed some answers, answers she could live with and she knew they had to come from her own self. She took her time in the washroom, unable to gather the strength to get back to the room.
Prithvi was standing by the window when she finally came out of the washroom. He had opened the window and it had started drizzling. The curtains danced in the gentle breeze and the first drops of sleety rain splattered against the window panes. He heard the washroom door open but refused to look back. It started pouring, he could feel rain drops on his face. It was as if the skies had opened up. He had never seen such rains in Mumbai.
'You go to sleep, I will be back' he said without looking at her and rushed out. He stopped only when he was out in the open. He needed to get out, the atmosphere in the room was so tensed that he felt stifled. He stood in the garden overlooking the pool and let the rain calm him down.
Damini walked up to the window and saw him standing there in the rain. She stared at him. She loved this man to the core of her being, she realised with a frightening intensity. Over the last few months her life started and ended with him, and she knew she loved him like she had never before. Past memories flooded her. The engagement night ...the hotel where she saw Inder and Riya....the strength he showed even after getting shot.....his concern to get her home....his sudden fright at the hospital.....the date and the dance there after.....the ring that he slipped on her finger and the hug that followed, ashirwad from Ma at the hospital, the wedding, his foresight the night of their wedding ....promise to mama, everything flashed one by one before her ....He had never failed her, she realised the stark truth.
Drenched and drained, Prithvi walked up to the bench in the garden and sat down. The fury of the heavens continued, along with him the skies were also crying. Tears mixed with the rain as they ran down his cheeks. He looked skyward, why did you have to go away ' his eyes spoke in silence.
Suddenly the rain seemed to have stopped, he looked up to find her standing there in front of him with an umbrella over his head. He shut his eyes wondering whether it was a dream. He looked again to make sure he saw her. Yes, she was standing there half drenched, looking at him. She moved slowly and sat down beside him on the bench. He took the umbrella from her and held it high to shield them from the rain. She shifted closer and placed her head on his shoulder.
They sat there in the rain, he with the red umbrella on one hand and holding her close to him with the other, she leaning against him leaving behind all fears and uncertainties .....
It was just them and the music of the rainy night.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
