Memories In the Making-The Sharmas(MN)Link p.149 - Page 18

With the sun beautifully rising in the East, the morning dawned upon Mumbai. After the previous day's rain, everything looked very fresh and slowly people started going about their work. But two people were unaware of what is going around them in the world because they were at a far more heavenly place: their own dreamland. Mayank and Nupur were asleep in their bedroom with Nupur's head placed on his chest and his arms surrounding her. They had identical smiles on their faces. With the curtains still drawn close, they were not aware of the time or the surrounding. It was the sound of the telephone ringing that brought them out of their peaceful slumber.

"Mayank, get the phone please" Nupur as she snuggled more into him.

"Hmmm' Nupur u get it, I just went to sleep"

"Me too'and it's all your fault. U didn't let me'" Nupur had just uttered it when she realized what she had said in her half awake half sleep self. She immediately became quiet and a red colour took over her cheeks. Mayank who was taken aback by her words because she never says such stuff, slowly turned her around and lied beside her, so he can see her face. With one hand holding her tight, he outlined her face with his finger and admired her blush before speaking.

"Mrs.Sharma, it's not my fault that u looked so breath-taking last night, especially drenched in rain. Who told u to get wet in the rain?" Nupur stayed quiet with her eyes closed. The phone had stopped ringing by now.

"Aree'just a minute ago, u were speaking so boldly and now all of a sudden, u r getting shy?"

"Mayank'.please" Nupur muttered hoping to stop her husband's rambling but he wasn't in the mood.

"What please? Answer me..who told u to get drenched? I'm not going to let u go until u answer that question," he said as he started nearing her lips. Nupur was trying to get out of his hold but it seemed like an impossible task. Mayank was about to capture her lips when the telephone rang disturbing them for the 2^nd time that morning. Mayank was a bit startled and had loosened his grip on her, so Nupur took this opportunity to escape to the washroom.

"Nupu'," Mayank called her only to get a tongue sticking out him before the washroom door closed.

"This Phone bhi na'always at the wrong time," Mayank said as he reached for the phone.

"Hello..."

"Hi Mayank! Is Nupur there?"

"Uday!!! How do u always call at the wrong time?"

"Wrong time? Mayank, it's time for breakfast, how can it be a wrong time? I don't get it."

"what else is new? Calling at the wrong time and talking about food," Mayank said, mumbling the last bit to himself.

"Nothing new, Mayank'it's the same toast and jam for breakfast. Is Nupur'" he was cut off by Mayank, "Uday'Nupur is in the washroom and', I'll tell her to call u back'Bye"

"Haan'ok bye." but Mayank had already hung up.

***************

After awhile, when Nupur came out of the washroom dressed in a light pink suit, she didn't find Mayank in the room. She thought he was in the other washroom and moved downstairs to the kitchen. When she reached the kitchen, she saw Mayank standing there with two cups. When he passed one of the cups, Nupur happily took it thinking it was Coffee but to her dismay, it was milk. She immediately pouted and gave a disappointed look to him

"Mayank? Again milk? I thought it was World ki best coffee"

"Well, Mrs.Sharma. I'm sorry to disappoint u but until the baby is born, it's only going to be World ki best Milk or World ki best Tea," he said smiling but then he saw her disappointed look and added, "I'm sorry..but try to understand. It's not healthy"

"Fine'be a sadu'," she said but her voice showed that she understood. She quickly drank her milk and gave a pout.

"U know u look very cute like this. And this suit is just ' wow," he said.

"Thanks,"

"Aree'I just said the suit is beautiful."

"Mayank!Argh..," she said irritated as she moved towards the sink with her cup. Mayank finished his and back hugged her.

"Sorry..main mazak kar rahoon Baba," as he placed his cup in the sink as well while he still held her tight. Nupur was about to reply back when she noticed his cup.

"Mayank, were u drinking milk as well?"

"Haan"

"But why? I'm the pregnant one, not u. Besides, u hate it."

"Haan but u hate it too, no? If u can drink it for our baby, then I can do it for the baby too"

"Mayank, there is no need for u to do this. I mean anything I eat affects the baby, why are u unnecessarily taking the trouble?"

"Nupur, look I know there is no need for me to do this. But I want to do this. The baby is ours and though I can't carry the baby or go through labour, I at least want to do this. Please don't make this a big issue."

"Lekin mayank.."

"Shh'I'm doing this for my baby. So no more discussion on this, Mrs.Sharma" he said smiling.

"I love u Mayank. I love u so much." Nupur said as she hugged him tight.

"Wow, bahut pyaar aaraha hai Mrs.Sharma. Kya baat hai? Last night ka hangover?"

"Mayank!" she said as she hit him on his chest.

"Haan..that's my name"

"U think this is funny?"

"Well, no but u are making a big deal out of a small thing. Now, no more senti talks. Ok?" She nodded.

"Ok, so what should we talk about? Samrat-Gunjan? Benji-Diya?.."

"Nupur, how about we don't talk?"

"Kya? Mayank..u really are a sadu? How is that fun?"

"well, it could be fun.." Mayank said as he came towards her with a twinkling in his eyes. Nupur knew this Mayank and though she loved this romantic Mayank, she knew this was not the time for it. She was moving backwards and suddenly the telephone rang. Mayank was frustrated.

"This is the third time today'what's wrong with this world? A man can't have some private time with his wife in peace?" Mayank muttered to himself as he moved towards the phone while Nupur giggled at his expression.

"Hello," he said irritatedly.

"umm..Hi Dude'is everything ok?" Samrat answered on the other side.

"Haan Haan 'u and Uday are there na? Of course everything will be ok," Mayank said with a slight sarcastic tone. Samrat knew his friend very well to guess what might've happened.

"So I guess I just became kabab mein haddi again. So what did I disrupt?"

"Samrat'did u call me this early in the morning to ask me this question?" Mayank asked.

"Early? Wow, Mr.Mayank Sharma who used to get up 4 in the morning to study is calling 11 am early? Kya baat hai yaar? Didn't get enough sleep last night?"

Before Mayank could answer, Nupur who had stayed behind in the kitchen to wash the utensils, had come back and asked who was on the phone with gestures.

"Samrat"

"Samrat!!! Mayank, let me talk to him." Nupur took the phone from Mayank, who was more than happy that he didn't need to answer Samrat's question.

"Samrat! How are u? How is Gunjan? And how is ur honeymoon in Delhi? When r u guys coming back? Is Gunjan there?..."

"Nupur Nupur..let me answer ur questions first. Chashmish and I are fine. We r enjoying our honeymoon. We are coming back in a couple of days. Ur sister is right next to me and she misses u too much."

"Samrat, U talk too much'let me speak to Gunjan"

"I talk too much? Mrs.Morena Express, u should listen to urself first"

"Samrat'" Nupur started to speak

"Samrat, stop teasing Di. Give me the phone." Gunjan said taking the phone from Samrat.

"Good morning Di! How are u, Jeeju and tumhara duggu?"

"Good morning Gunjan! We are great but missing u so much. How are you?

"I miss u too Di'but otherwise, I'm fine." They talked for a while longer until Nupur remembered she needed to make lunch. Uday Bhaiya dropped in during Lunch to see his same blood group-wali sister.

******************

After Lunch'

Mayank and Nupur were sitting on their sofa. Nupur was lying down on the sofa, with her head placed on Mayank's lap, while Mayank was working on his laptop, which was placed on the sofa armrest.

"Nupur'"

"Hmm'"

"I forgot to tell you yesterday. I talked to the Movers and they said they only need about 2 days to do their job. We just have to pack the smaller items like clothes/books/utensils/etc in boxes ahead so that everything is ready by the time they get here."

"Hmm'"

"We still got about a month and a half left..but ur exam is starting in the second week of Dec and I'll also be busy with the evaluations at the end of Dec, so we should start packing items we don't use at all."

"Hmm'" Suddenly, Nupur felt her husband's palms on her cheek and looked up to see Mayank looking back at her.

"Kya hua? What happened? U were fine till lunch'now what's this silence?"

"I don't know'this move."

"I thought u were happy with this Nupur. Look, we don't have to move if we don't want to."

"Mayank, that's not what I meant. I'm happy with the move but I also feel sad about leaving this house'This is the house where our love brought us back together again and this is the house, where our most beautiful dream got fulfilled. There are many beautiful memories attached to this place."

"Haan'I agree. I lived through my worst nightmares and my beautiful dreams in this same house." Mayank said and sat quietly there for a couple of minutes. He remembered the infinite times he had cried for Nupur in the loneliness of his bedroom and then he remembered the many times he and Nupur had laughed together in the very same room. He was snapped out of his reminiscences by Nupur's voice.

"Mayank?"

"Haan..but Nupur, u know. Just because we are leaving this house doesn't mean we are leaving the memories. It will always stay with us and we will make a lot more memories in the new house."

"Pakka promise?" She asked like a little girl. Mayank smiled, placed his palm on her open palm and said, "Pakka promise"

She gave him a satisfied smile and fell asleep on his lap. Mayank could just picture his daughter. How cute would she look with her mother's big eyes, which spoke volumes and that innocent smile, which could melt anyone? After a couple of minutes, he moved her head to a pillow and got up. He kissed on her forehead and her tummy before he moved towards the office room. He wasn't feeling sleepy, so he thought of packing some of his own stuff, mainly books.

*************

Nupur was woken up by the constant ringing of the telephone. She tried to ignore it at first, tried calling for Mayank next and when neither worked, she answered it.

"Hello'"

"Hello Nupur Beta."

"Bauji! Aap kaise ho?"

"Mein theek hoon. How are u and Mayank?"

"We are fine Bauji. Are you taking your pressure tablets on time? And don't forget to eat on time," she said the last part threateningly

"Haan Beta." he said smiling. "Are you going for your check-ups regularly Beta?"

"Haan Bauji..

"Actually Nupur Beti. I called to say that I'll be coming to visit you for the New Year's."

"That's great Bauji," Nupur almost squealed in joy before continuing, "Bauji, u have to stay with us this time, ok?"

"Of course Beta. Is Mayank there?"

"Haan he is home today but I think he is upstairs. Let me go get him"

"It's ok Beta. Don't bother him. I'll talk to him the next time I call and I'll also give u the flight details then."

"Ok Bauji."

"Ok. I'll keep the phone now. Apna khayal rakhna Beti"

"Haan Bauji and aap bhi"

"Haan. Bye"

"Bye"

Nupur felt so happy that she wanted to tell someone. She started looking for Mayank but didn't find him in their bedroom nor his office room. She then saw the light of the store room and moved towards it. When she reached the door, she saw Mayank standing by the window. She walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulders. Mayank turned around and she could see that his eyes were moist.

To be Cont'd.