She walks in Beauty...Th4 Chap-48 pg 132 - Page 96

"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,

I love you directly without problems or pride:

I love you like this because I don't know any other way to love,

except in this form in which I am not nor are you,

so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,

so close that your eyes close with my dreams."(Pablo Neruda)

"Dr. Jagan! What a pleasant surprise! Glad to see you here"

Dr. Jagan smilingly takes a few strides towards him and Ashutosh pulls him in a one arm squeeze.

"Thank you Dr. Ashutosh, So am I... I arrived here a few days back, tried to contact all my friends. I called up Arman last night, and got to know about your wedding. Congratulations, to both of you. Where is Dr. Malika?"

"Thank you Jagan. She must be arriving, actually I'm here early"

While conversing they move towards his cabin. Nidhi was greeted and congratulated by the receptionist and by everyone who met her on her way to the paediatric department of the hospital.

"That is expected of you...You are not going to change. But, I think now you should spare some time for your family"

Ashutosh smiles, "My family wasn't home so I preferred to work"

"But you said Dr. Malika is not here yet"

His words stun Ashutosh for a while, and getting an intimation of misunderstanding in his question, he answers, "Yes! I don't know where she is? I mean she surely must be on her way."

Dr. Jagan returns a look of bewilderment, not knowing what to say and how to say, he fumbled with the words, "Arman told... you have just gotten married...I mean you are married...Aren't you?"

Ashutosh smiles, "Yes I'm! I'm married to a doctor; she is a paediatrician working in this hospital"

Ashutosh well aware about the reason behind Dr. Jagan's bewilderment, having realised the enormity of the shock he got, and before he could utter what he would never like to hear he thought it imperative to quickly clear his misunderstanding.

Ashutosh offers seat to Dr. Jagan and picks his intercom and leaves a message at reception, "Ask Dr. Malika to see me as soon as she turns up"

He turns to Dr. Jagan, "So what would you like to have?"

Dr. Jagan still in his state of extreme amazement shakes his head and manages to speak, "No, thank you I had breakfast just a little while ago"

The revelation seemed to have completely baffled Dr. Jagan, but something definitely had glowed inside him, mingled with bafflement there was a tinge of suppressed delirium, his face presenting an incipient glow of joy, a question involuntarily escaped his mouth, "How is Malika?"

Ashutosh pursed his lips and replied, "Fine...she is fine"

He wanted to evade this question and the inquisitive eyes of Dr. Jagan, that asked more than what his words actually intended, he quickly inquired, "So how long you are going to stick around there...don't you feel like coming back to your country and serve your people here"

Dr. Jagan smiled and nodded his head, "Yes Ashutosh, no matter how long you wander around the alien streets, ultimately your country, your homeland calls you. No matter where you live, you want to breathe your last in your home...I am tired of being there, but don't have a choice...I would love to stay and settle here in my own land"

Ashutosh smiled, "Then what is preventing you...come back"

Dr. Jagan, "Hope this time some miracle happens"

Ashutosh says with a lopsided grin, "Why do you need a miracle to happen, just give up job there and come back, any hospital would like to hire you ...in fact you can consider this as an offer to be with us"

Dr. Jagan looks at his friend with gratitude and responds smilingly, "Thank you Ashutsoh, I also feel tired now, I miss you all there, I miss my country, my culture, you can't find this in an alien land...he takes a deep breath and asks, "How is Baba Ashutosh? He must be really happy to see you married and settled and where is your wife? I want to meet the lady who managed to captivate the Heartstone"

Ashutosh grinned, "Baba is fine, yes, he is very happy and to meet my wife you'll have to come home for a dinner and don't you want to meet Baba?"

"Yes, I'll come there, but after a few days... tomorrow I'm leaving for Mumbai"

A knock on the door interrupted them. The KGH college administrative officer enters and after exchanging morning greetings he apprises, "I'm sorry to disturb you Sir, the cardiologist, who was lecturing today as our guest lecturer has cancelled his session. Due to some unavoidable circumstances his arrival from abroad has got deferred. He called me last night to inform about his delay and I have been trying to find a guest lecturer since last night but nothing seems to be working. The specialists in our cardiology department are all busy"

Ashutosh pondered for a while and the officer waited for his response silently. He after a long minute raised his eyes towards Dr. Jagan giving an expectant look and he winked and nodded his head in response. Ashutosh smiled and introduced him to the officer, "Here is your guest lecturer-the famous cardiologist, Dr. Jagan"

The Officer smiled, his worries gone, he thanked Dr. Jagan and his boss, and apprised Dr. Jagan about the timings and the topic he has to deliver lecture upon.

With that Jagan stands up to leave, "Okay Ashutosh! You carry on with your work; I'll see Malika in her cabin or later when I come here for the lecturing."

Ashutosh smiles and nods, "Do give me a call when you are back from Mumbai"

Jagan nods in response and with a quick bye' takes his leave.

Dr. Jagan after shutting the door of Ashutosh's cabin gazes at Ashutosh's name plate for a few long seconds, paying tribute to the magnanimity of the person who didn't break through the integuments and didn't mention about their last encounter.

He met him after a long time, after when he faced him daringly and brazenly standing up for Malika's feelings for him. He couldn't bear that day; he had to retort seeing how indifferently he was talking to Malika. Ashutosh knew he liked Malika and he tried his best to make him understand that he can't have any other relation with Malika except they can be good friends through their lifetime. But Jagan couldn't believe he always thought Ashutosh will marry her someday. He hoped that, at least for Malika, seeing the depth of her feelings for Ashutosh. But he was true; he had always counted her a friend. Like a true friend since he came to know about Malika's feelings, he distanced himself from her, but Malika! She must be devastated, his thoughts wander towards her, and all engrossed when he bumps into someone he realises the person he was concerned about was facing him. He gazed at her unblinkingly for a long second till she spoke and he had to blink,

"Dr. Jagan! You here?"

He smiled and replied "Why? Can't I come here to meet my friends?"

"Of course you can, you met Ashutosh?"

"Yes, I met him and..."

"And you were leaving without meeting me"

"No Malika, I came back only to meet my friends, Last night I called Arman and came to know about Ashutosh's marriage. So I was here to congratulate Ashutosh and to meet you of course."

Malika smiles, "Come, let us sit in my cabin, hope you won't mind a cup of coffee"

Jagan nodded and accompanied her; he couldn't tell her how much he was concerned for her when he got to know Ashutosh has married, and not to her. He loved her most that's why even when he adored and dearly loved her, he only thought about her, about her happiness and didn't mind defending her feelings against Ashutosh's unacceptable behaviour. He always desired to see her happy. He never thought about his unrequited love, and how can that even count when one's love is so sacred and bereft of selfishness and greed. All you want is happiness of your beloved. Beloved comes first, beloved exists only, above your own existence. Gripped by her thoughts, he was silently following her and pondering about the flicker of pain he saw in her eyes when he mentioned about Ashutosh's marriage. She opened the door of her cabin and waited for him to enter. He silently entered and seated himself in a visitors chair and waited till Malika ordered two coffees for them.

"So you were leaving without meeting me"

"You know that can never happen"

"But you were leaving"

He smiles, "Yes, I thought to meet you later, I'm coming again to deliver a lecture in KGH college"

"Really! I didn't know that"

He smiles again, "No Malika, this wasn't planned at all. Ashutosh offered me the opportunity, and I grabbed quickly, at least I can return back a little, this country has given me so much. You people are lucky; you are serving your own people"

"Hmm... and what is stopping you? Why don't you come back?"

Jagan smiles, "Earlier there was no reason, but now I think...I can"

She smiles, "I'm glad you've found a reason, otherwise you remember when Ashutosh and I were returning how much we coerced you and what were your words: "there is nothing in India left for you."

He twitches his lips, inhales deeply, taking a sip of coffee that a ward boy places on the table, he answers her, "Destiny doesn't favour all Malika"

He looks into her eyes as if trying to read through her eyes. She lowers her eyes, knowing the connotation of his words, fiddling with the cup of coffee, she raised her eyes back when she heard him say, "if destiny doesn't favour us we can favour ourselves by changing our ways that is what I did."

She smiles, "What should one do, who knows no other way"

He responds, "The way sometimes stops and asks for a fellow-traveller?"

"There are so many who travel alone Jagan"

"But alone... Alone, one can never reach a destination... in fact, there is no destination for them"

She sighs, tears glistening her eyes, she gets up to hide her moist eyes, wipes her tears and looks out through the window, "For some, there is no destination...only journey"

"What if someday the journey gets a co-traveller as alone as path...can't two loners travel together?"

She chuckles, "Together? To different destinations?"

He continues with solemn face, "Can't destination be one? And why care about the destination...can't they just enjoy the journey?"

She turns and looking straight into his eyes, she asks, "How long?"

His eyes hooked to hers, he answers, "Don't they say, death is the only destination we all share."

He waits for her answer and she was lost, baffled to hear the brazen enunciation of something she never expected, she remains rooted with a dazzled, baffled look on her face.

Jagan lowers his eyes, gets up and after a few seconds raise his eyes back to her, with a smile on his face, he speaks "Okay, see you later... I've to meet a friend at City Hospital"

Malika slightly nods her head and he smilingly adds, "Thank you for the coffee" and turns to leave saying, "bye see you later"

Malika only responds with a "bye"

Nidhi steps out of Dr. Behl's cabin and guffaws.

She taps her head, "Of course I have changed...my status has changed...I'm Mrs. Dean...Thank God! My husband, the disciplinarian knows to balance, personal and professional life...otherwise what a weird it would be to work in same hospital"

She found a change in everyone's behaviour, clearly the conscious and obvious response to her changed status. She was finding that strange and weird.

She smiles again at the thought how just stepping on the KGH's stairway; he got transformed into a dean. She mumbles, "Mr. Heartstone! My sweetheart" She suppresses her chuckle, "How he manages all this... who'll believe me If I say how differently, I know him" Her heart swells with joy, She only knows him that way, that's her world, their world.

Not knowing all engrossed in her thoughts she reached the paediatric ward of KGH. Children were overjoyed to see her and within moments she too got transformed into a professional.

After half an hour, Ashutosh enters the paediatric ward for routine round, his eyes met Nidhi's, and the eyes sparkled and were quickly turned away. A whole bunch of interns and senior doctors were following him. The dread was emanating from every face. She had to hold her tongue between her teeth to stop her chuckle, when she saw how an intern fumbled answering him. Doctors and interns accompanying him were glancing at them intermittently, husband and wife duo were together the first time. Dr. Behl was at ease, maybe the thought, he was boss of Mrs. Dean made him feel so relaxed. But his placidness vanishes in thin air the moment Ashutosh stuns him with a question about the progress of a child in spite of Nidhi handing him the file of the patient. He glanced at her as sombrely as he would glance at any other junior, the same glance that never failed to run chills down the spine. Maintaining the same protocol with his wife and talking to her in the same behaviour as with others sends the message wide and clear-no nonsense business expected of everyone.

When he reaches the doorway, his mobile buzzes and he checks the message, a hug smiley sent by Nidhi and he twitches his lips to suppress his grin.

He writes back, "What is that for? Missing your husband?"

She replies, "Hmm... No!!! That is for my Dean."

Since paediatric ward was the last destination of his daily round. He straight turns towards his cabin after ordering doctors to get back to their duties and interns with instructions to wait for him in OT of neurology department. Settling himself in the chair in his cabin he answers her smilingly.

"For your dean???"

She writes back,"Yes for the heart stone he is"

He chuckles and writes, "what about giving a real one?"

She bites her cheek and writes,"Where?"

"In my cabin"

"My husband doesn't like the meddling of per and pro lives"

"Oh! This is purely professional, the hug is for dean."

Nidhi grins "I always thought our Dean didn't like this"

"He would never mind if offered so generously"

"What???"

"Oh! Wish I could dissolve this in my mouth"

"What?"

"Your pout"

She purses her lips, She realises she was actually pouting, her mind recapitulates the taste of his lips and a yearning sprouts in her heart, before the mind and heart wandered in his thoughts, her phone buzzes again with a message, "Okay, Love! Surgery scheduled"

She takes a deep breath and writes back, "All the best! Miss you"

Ashutosh touches the screen of his phone smoothly as if trying to soothe the feelings the words were expressing.

Nidhi enters the common room to meet her friends for a coffee as she usually did. But today was a different day; she was there after her wedding. The moment she steps in she was surrounded by her friends flooding her with the questions; Dr. Ahana was the first one to ask:

"So Dr. Nidhi, How's your honeymoon?"

She shrugs her shoulders, "Good"

Priyanka asks in a child like temptation, "How was Dr. Ashutosh?" She gives her a questioning look and waits for her answer adding "I mean... you know what I mean" and winks at her.

Nidhi pops out her eyes and retorts, "May I know why you are so interested to know?"

"Come on you are married to the handsome hunk of our Hospital. You know how much we adore him"

Nidhi smiles, "Yes, I know. Why don't you go and ask him?"

Ahana bursts into laughter, "Ask him? Guess what would be his reaction if Priyanka would dare to ask him that too a serendipitous question."

Priyanaka mock glares her.

Dr. Jyotika who was silent, opens her mouth in apprehension, "Seriously Nidhi, I got frostbites seeing him just now, tell me does he talk to you like this, the way he asked you questions about the boy, are you people talking like that always, Are you happy?"

Nidhi smiles realising the undertone of concern, "Of course I'm happy. You know how he is"

Priyanka mumbles, "Heart stone"

Nidhi hears her mumble and smiles, "You can call him, I know he is a heart stone and I love him for that" while Nidhi uttered those words, Dr. Malika and Dr. Aditi entered the common room and after exchanging pleasantries, the subject of their discussion changes to Nidhi's Saree though Malika tried to continue the topic of their discussion by asking- grilling newly wed friend? All gave a smile to her and remained silent till Nidhi broke the silence and started a discussion about weather. Dr. Malika after exchanging a few dialogues about the Lucknow weather tried to ask her, "How was weather in Kashmir Dr. Nidhi?"

She answered in few words, "Very cold"

"Hope you enjoyed?"

Nidhi giving a casual expression answers, "Hmm... Yes, we enjoyed... we are not used to such cold temperature so there remained a little discomfort"

Aahana asks, "You complaining about cold. You had a hot handsome hunk with you"

Nidhi gives her a flustered look and stands up, "you guys continue... I've to get back to work"

Aahana follows her saying "We too have to work, Mrs. Heart stone"

Nidhi punches her arm and Priyanka asks, "You are going to have lunch with us"

"Not today... I'll have my lunch at home" waving bye to each other, they all disperse. Nidhi takes a breath of relief that she managed to avert the subject in presence of Dr. Malika. She didn't want to hurt her by divulging details about their honeymoon and she thanks god she managed to avoid her questions.

Nidhi called it a day and picked her phone to send an sms to Ashutosh but the longing to see him before leaving stopped her hands and her feet move on own accord towards his cabin. Ashutosh's secretary springs to his feet seeing her, she had a hard time to suppress her chuckle. Twitching her lips, she asks him, "Is Dr. Ashutosh in?"

Before he could answer Dr. Malika responds, standing in the doorway, "Dr. Nidhi he has left just now. He was in ICU, he left from there, and he will be back in an hour"

Nidhi turns to look at Dr. Malika, nodding her head slightly, she says, "Thank you. You know where he has gone?"

"No, He didn't tell me, but he said he'll be back in an hour"

NIdhi felt a twinge in her heart, but she smiled at Dr. Malika and thanking her again she left for her home. Moving out of KGH, thinking why Ashutosh didn't inform her, she checks her phone for sms. Not finding any sms she pouts vaguely, but a honk caught her attention and her pout dissolves into a big grin when the car stops near her and her husband signals her to get into the car. She quickly takes the few steps and getting into the car she quickly asks, "You here?"

Ashutosh smiles and starts the car and Nidhi asks again, "Where are we going? And why didn't you inform me. I went to see you in your cabin and you were not there. Thanks to Dr. Malika who informed me you have gone out."

"Take a breath, my love! You can ask questions one by one. I'm here"

She gives him a sidelong glance and he chuckles turning his car to main road, he responds, "Why you talked to Malika? Didn't I make last night clear you are going to stay away from her?"

"Yes, you did, but what is wrong if I talk to her. We are in the same hospital. We can't avoid each other. I can't be so rude and why should I?"

He smiles, "But you were ready to kill her last night."

She pouts, "That is but natural... If she drools over my man, how I should react? How would you feel if someone eyes me like..."

He didn't allow her to complete, "Don't even dare to say that. The person would be dead before he raises his eyes on you."

"Men???" She grumbles and he biting his lower lip gives her a sidelong glance and pulls her to him.

Pecking her forehead, "you know how much I love you? Don't you?"

"No! I don't"

"You forgot just in a few hours. You want me to remind you."

"You left work just for that?"

"Just for that? There just can't be any better reason."

"By the way, may I know why the dean has left hospital at this hour?"

"Don't you see he is accompanying his wife?"

"Where?"

"Just to be with her."

She saw him turning his car towards a car showroom and asked quickly, "Why here?"

"To buy a car for my wife"

"No!! There is no need."

He parks his car and gives her a questioning look, "How you are going to travel to work every day?"

"With my husband whenever our timings are same else I can take a cab"

"You want me to travel in a car and see my wife travelling in a cab."

"What is wrong in that?"

He raises his eyebrow, "Who are you to decide that? Come on, get off quickly."

He unlocks the car doors and she tries again to stop him, "Listen Ashutosh there is no need for another car. We will travel together mostly."

He glares her and she asks, "What?"

"Fine enough from now on you will drive this car. I'll use public transport."

"No you can't."

He shrugs his shoulders and gets off the car saying, "Then come on quickly and choose your car. I have to get back to work."

Nidhi pouts, "You are not going to listen."

"I'm going to hear anything and everything you want, only if you are not trespassing your limits."

She grumbles, "Trespassing my Limits? I didn't know that... huh... I've limits to trespass."

"Yes, you have, you don't have right to say a word, about or for or against my wife. Keep that in mind."

Nidhi not able to decide whether she should resent or shower her love on him, which she so desired to do, remains mum and follows him silently.

After fifteen minutes she selects an i10 car with the help of a sales executive, Ashutosh watches them silently allowing her to select a car of her choice and when she finalises an i10 car of blue colour he intervenes saying, "I think you should have an i20 car"

She huffs, "What was the fun to bring me here? You could have selected one yourself"

Ashutosh suppresses his chuckle and nods at the sales executive who was waiting for them to arrive at a decision, "We would like to take the car Madam selected. Please get the car ready and we'll be back in half an hour"

They leave and when they board car again, Ashutosh asks to end her quiet, "You don't want to ask where we are going now?"

She answers in a miff, "I don't want to trespass my limits"

Ashutosh twitched his lips to suppress his chuckle and after a while he calls her, "Jaan!" in a voice that she could never have avoided to respond.

She turns to look at him in a fond glance, leans to his side and resting her head on his shoulder, she asks, "You are never going to listen to me"

He pecks her head, "Yes, I'm not going to listen to anybody when it is about my love, the sooner you understand the better it is for you"

She couldn't help her smile and her urge to shower her love on the person who loved her most on the earth. She raises her head and kisses his cheek. And he just smiles at that gesture.

Holding his arm tightly she asks, "Where are we going now?"

"Till they complete papers, Let us have lunch" and with that he parks his car near a restaurant.

"Lunch? Don't you think it is too late?"

"No, it is not. We have a table already booked here and that too for a late lunch."

Nidhi's heart brimmed with love and her throat felt choked to say anything in response, knowing his husband is making up for yesterday's lunch, she followed him silently. The restaurant was full, people were having lunch, and for new visitors the board was displaying "closed for lunch" yet they were welcomed. A waiter guided them to the corner table and after five minutes starters were served. Nidhi's favourite veg soup.

She was amazed, "You ordered lunch already, and you planned all this"

Ashutosh looked fondly at her. Her smiling face never failed to sprout bubbles of joy in his heart, "Yes, I planned this but wasn't sure. You know there is always apprehension of getting stuck. Like yesterday"

Nidhi places her hand on his and he entwines his fingers in hers, "Ashutosh I understand, please don't rue the day. What if we couldn't have lunch together yesterday? We can have anytime, always, we have a lifetime."

His eyes smiling at her response, he replies, "But I don't want to miss a single moment, if I grab chances like this, do you have a problem?"

She grins, "Not at all, Sir"

He narrows his eyes presenting a glint of mischief and she glares at him understanding the glint in his eyes.

They had their lunch feeding and exchanging fond glances at each other. Nidhi was relishing his favourite ice cream and Ashutosh after tasting a few spoons at her insistence was watching her mesmerizingly, his unblinking stare made her look around and ask him, "What?"

He smiles and answers with eyes glued on her, "You are looking so beautiful". Nidhi was wearing a black stripe brasso pattern chiffon saree. Her mangalsutra with a pair of black stone studs was adorning her sleek neck.

Nidhi remembered the glint she saw in his eyes the moment he emerged from restroom in the morning. His pupils dilated and he quickly averted his eyes and dressed himself so that she reaches the Hospital on time. Taking a spoonful of ice cream she asks, "You wanted me to dress like this, didn't you? Now happy I'm back to normal"

He chuckles and responds in a husky tone, "I never meant that, you look beautiful in everything but when you wear these delicate fabrics, your fluidity takes my breath away."

Her eyes pop out, "We are in a restaurant."

Shrugging his shoulders," So what? I'm talking to my wife"

"Talking to your wife is good, but behave your eyes" she looks around to make him realise they are in a public place.

"What is wrong with my eyes? Don't they speak my heart out?"

She glares at him, but he keeps his eyes glued to her and she had to lower her eyes, saying, "You are turning shameless."

"My wife is to blame"

She shakes her head saying, "Now get up, I'm done" and with that she gets up and he follows her.

While driving car towards showroom, he held her hand in his and in the same husky voice he recites a lyric to her, Nidhi had a huge grin on her face while she heard him recite:

And she eagerly asks, "But???"

Holding his tongue in his cheek and looking at her in same amorous gaze, "Remaining at dinner"

"No! Please conclude that"

He shakes his head saying, "First that is never going to conclude and second rest of lyric is for dinner" and with that they reach the showroom.

The sales Executive hand over the keys and documents of the car to Ashutosh and he passes on to Nidhi. She refuses to take, "No, I want you to drive this car first"

"How can I Nidhi, You know I've to go back to hospital"

She grimaces and shakes her head, "I don't want to drive this alone"

He turns to Sales guy, "Can I leave my car here? I'll send my driver in a while"

The sales guy smiles and answers, "Sure sir"

Nidhi's face glows and she offers him the keys, but he asks her to drive the car. She drops him at KGH and leaves for home.

Kaka and Baba were in lawn, when she drives in the pathway to her house.

She got off the car and walked up to them. Baba was first one to ask, "New car beta?"

"Yes, Baba Ashutosh just gifted me this car."

Baba and kaka went to the car porch to check Nidhi's new car. Baba was elated; his joy knew no bounds not only for Nidhi because she got a new car but also for his son who was enjoying life, enjoying the connubial bliss finally. He never had expected to see him getting accustomed to this new life so easily. Nidhi's love has already changed the man of few words and also the angry young man, the qualities that safely earned him the title of heart stone. Baba showers his blessings on Nidhi and leaves for JS.

At Hospital Ashutosh was in his cabin almost his day was nearing completion when he answered a knock on the door. Dr. Malika followed by a ward boy carrying two cups of coffee entered his cabin.

What is this Malika?

"I thought to share a cup of coffee with my friend." The ward boy placed coffees on the table and left.

"Thank you Malika but I seriously don't want to have coffee this time. Anyways, you brought now I'll have to have for you."

"Thank you Ashutosh." She takes a sip and asks, "Where were you in the afternoon? Nidhi came here she was looking for you."

"Did she? I told you that time I needed to go out."

"Anything serious?"

"Hmm...No, I had to actually get a car for Nidhi."

"Oh! You did fine. Your timings are so different. You can't travel with her all the time."

Ashutosh just nodded his head in response and buried himself in the file he was checking.

"You are busy I think."

"Yes, checking an important case file."

"That train accident patient's file?"

"Hmm."

"Okay! You study his file and do let me know if you need my help. I'll check patients in ICU. I hope you won't mind dropping me at home."

"Not at all Malika but I'm leaving in 10 minutes"

"So early?"

"Is it?"

"No, I mean you don't leave at this time usually"

He didn't answer and Malika adds, "Okay, I'll wrap up in 10 minutes"

Ashutosh drops Malika home. She was feeling better compared to yesterday and a lot better than what he saw her a few days ago. She insists him for a cup of tea, but he turns down her offer courteously saying he doesn't want to be late so that he can have dinner with Baba. He tried his best not to mention Nidhi. The person he was wishing to go flying to. Nidhi's thought brought a smile on his face and when his phone rings his face had a huge grin seeing the caller's name. He didn't answer her call as he was about to reach and he wanted to see her pout. But she wasn't pouting, the moment he entered; he saw her watering plants in the lawn smiling in mirth. She felt her like a rose among many roses in the garden. He parked his car and watched her, fascinated. She questioned his stare, raising her brows and he smiled, shaking his head and walking up to her and thinking about how she is not only watering and making the garden of his house blossom but he was feeling the garden of his life blossoming as well. His bossom swelled with joy and he opened his arms to her inviting her in. She rolled her eyes, frowned seeing him waiting and finally leaped to him and he cherished her in his arms.

Nidhi was clearing table after dinner when she saw Ashutosh searching for something in the fridge. Baba and Kaka both were off to bed. Nidhi with a bowl in her hand asks, "What are you looking for?"

He grabs a box from the fridge and helps her storing the bowl she was carrying. She turns and he grabs her from behind and nuzzles her neck, she turns her head and pecks his cheek. Seeing the glint of mischief in his eyes, she tries to pry away, "Leave me"

"Leave you? Why? You don't want me to recite those lyrics now? You were very keen to hear"

Feeling the tickle she giggles answering, "Didn't you say, you will recite that at dinner"

"And you wanted me to recite that at the dinner table in Baba's presence"

"What is wrong in that?"

She was swept up by two strong pair of arms and landed in their private den. The moment her feet touched ground, she fled away to restroom and he shouted, "Come fast I'm waiting"

The minute she steps out in her cream coloured satin nightgown, she gets charmed, the room was dimly lit and soft music was playing on the music player enhancing the beauty of her husband's handsomeness and the darkened eyes that got stuck on her emanating his days yearning and wait, and exalting his hearts reverence for the love of his life.

Surprised, she asks, "What is this?"

In a groovy voice he answers, " My love".

He nears her and picks her up in his arms, laying her softly on the temple of his adoration, he pecks her forehead, then her eyes, followed by searing kisses on her cheeks and stopping near her lips, he mumbles, "I missed you" And she only manages to gulp down a moan making him sob for her.

Quenching the thirst of his parched lips, he brushes her swollen lips with his and recites the lyric again.

Stopping, he looks into her eyes and she bites her lower lip, waiting for him to complete, his hands touch the laces of her gown and her eyes droop, pecking her eyes he pulls the laces and recites looking deep into her eyes: