Bela was returning to her hut when hekim ji stopped her.
-- Bela beta, are you going to your hut? Plz tell Aditya to come and meet me.
-- Ji hekim ji.
Bela said so but got a little bit sad. She thought she would go and talk to Mahir about everything now. But hekim ji called him, she wonders for how long he'd be stucked in the chamber now!
Reaching the hut Bela saw Mahir sleeping like a baby in the bed, half of his body is out of the bed though. It seems like he had fallen asleep while sitting. Bela slowly went near him. He looks so cute now. She put one hand on his hair, and the other hand was carressing his face slowly. Mahir woke up suddenly. As soon as he woke up, Bela distanced herself. Mahir though gave awkward expressions yet felt happy.
-- Mahir, woh...hekim ji is calling you.
-- Me? At this time!
-- Yeah...
-- Okay...I'm going.
Mahir began to leave disappointed. He then turned back from the door and said
-- Bela, I'll be back soon. Don't sleep till then plz.
Saying this in a hurry Mahir left. Bela could only smile seeing this shade of Mahir.
Hekim ji always finds some tasks for Mahir. Why does he need his magnifying glass at this hour! This tiny thing is lost in this stuffed small chamber. However after searching this for almost half an hour, he found it and gave it to hekim ji. Then hekim stops him for serious discussion.
-- You are a part of this village now, so you should be aware of this as well. I thought of arranging something. I thought of arranging it today also but everyone is tired and sad today.
-- hmm..
-- I think from tomorrow we should arrange the supper on a communal basis..see, our village is very small. We are almost like a family. It'd be nice if we could do this you know why? Firstly, those among us who can not afford the last meal of the day will be benefitted. And secondly, the whole village will build a strong bond that'll help us in forgetting our losses. What do you think?
-- I liked the idea very much hekim ji. I really appreciate it..
Mahir said this not only because it's a positive idea but also because he feels hurry. When the discussion got over he started to leave fast when the hekim said
-- I think it'd be great if we can inform the villagers about this now!
-- (Mahir in his mind) No way..
-- What?
-- I mean no way now hekim ji. You know, this is just not the right time for all this...
-- Yeah, I think you are right. Why are you still standing then? Go to your hut, I'm feeling tired after such a day...
Mahir stood dumb, he is the one who is supposed to say this.
However, he finally got into the hut. And Bela suddenly got the idea to tease him. She lied on the bed pretending to be asleep. When Mahir entered and saw this
-- Oh God...Bela..Bela wake up!
He started trying to wake up Bela. But isn't it harder to wake up someone pretending to be sleeping? Bela was holding her laughter with great difficulty. But when after all this push Bela didn't wake up, Mahir realised everything.
-- Okay now I get it, I'll count till 10 and if you don't wake up by then I'll kiss you.
Bela, though surprised and nervous, decided to keep up the drama while Mahir counts
-- 1...2...3...4...5...10
And he leaned over her to kiss her but Bela pushed him saying
-- Wait this is cheating, you count till 5 and then 10
-- This is how you wake up someone pretending to be asleep.
-- What do you want Mahir ji? It's getting late..
-- Let it be, I'm not letting you to sleep tonight. Until You answer me
-- Answer you what?
-- You love me or not?
-- Mahir plz...
-- Yes or no Bela
-- maybe...perhaps...
-- What!
-- I don't know Mahir ji
-- You're hopeless
Mahir got annoyed and took the pillow and sheet from the bed and went to sleep on the ground. Bela soon followed him. By then he had already lied down on the ground making his bed. Bela seeing him said
-- Mahir ji...Mahir ji plz, I was joking..
-- Oh yes Bela...this is what you've made me into..a joke..
Saying this he turned his back towards Bela. Bela sat beside him.
-- Hey, plz don't get angry now.
-- Plz go Bela. I'm done with you.
-- See this is something I hate about you, you don't want to listen...
-- It's because you don't speak when I want to listen. Then you eat my head and come to talk.
-- What do you mean?
-- Bela it's not like I have asked you just now about it. Since our marriage I've been asking you the same - you love me or not. Yet you can not answer.
-- ha toh we've got married the day before yesterday only...
-- Not this marriage idiot I'm talking about.. ..Ok just forget it...
Mahir closed his eyes on purpose, hinting the end of the discussion. Bela looked at him for a minute. Then she leaned over him...brought her lips near his ear and whispered
-- By the way Mr. Mahir Sehgal, I believe you have realized that I have returned you favour...
Mahir frowned still his eyes closed. But Bela continued
-- And this...is the answer of all of your questions
Saying this Bela turned Mahir's face towards her and started smooching him. Mahir shocked by the incident forgot to reciprocate. When Bela looked at him anxiously he asked
-- Are you sure Bela? You love me right?
-- If this isn't love Mahir then there's nothing on earth called love.
Mahir smiled hearing this and started the kiss again. They are so lost in love today...nothing else matters. After some moments Mahir rolled on Bela. He began to kiss her jawline and neck...
After almost 10 months of their marriage, Behir consummated their marriage. Lying together with only on sheet covering them Bela was thinking how beautiful her life has turned because of this human. She was resting on his bare chest while she spotted the bullet mark on his hand. She put one hand on the wound. Mahir is still asleep. Bela reads the healing chants and after some moments the wound gets healed.
-- I'll heal you like this everytime Mahir...I love you!
She again rested her head on his chest. But suddenly a new thought crosses her mind, " How would Mahir react after knowing about his father's death?"