Part 6 ~ The Blossoming of LoveIn the morning, Rishi sat in the living room, writing in a journal. As he was writing, Milli was walking out of the bedroom, dressed in a white and blue salwar kameez as she got ready for work. She then stopped upon seeing Rishi. "Hey!" Milli called out to Rishi.
"Yeah." Rishi said as he looked up.
"I'm leaving for work now," Milli told Rishi. "I'll be back in the evening."
"Cool." Rishi nodded his head.
With that, Milli left the flat, heading into the elevator. What was he writing? Milli asked herself.
"Okay! I got to focus on this story now!" Rishi exclaimed. "Now...how do I write the train scene?!" As Rishi was pondering, he heard the sound of his cellphone ring. He grabbed hold of it as he was writing and answered the call. "Hello?"
"Remember me?"
"Meera?"
"Good. You still do."
"Why'd you call all of a sudden?"
"Are you busy right now?"
"No. Why?"
"I want to meet up with you."
"Um...are you sure about that?"
"Just a friendly meeting, Rishi. Nothing else. I'm actually finishing a scene for my film right now. After that's done, I'll meet you at that coffee shop downtown."
"But I-"
"Just come, Rishi."
Meera hung up before Rishi could say anything. He then sighed as he closed his journal and headed inside the bedroom to change.
Later around noon, Rishi was waiting at the coffee shop where Meera told him to go. As he sat at the table, Meera was then walking towards the table. He stood up as she came to him, wearing black shades, a sleeveless blue mini dress, and blue pumps. She took off her shades as she came to Rishi. "Hi." Rishi said as he extended his hand to Meera for a handshake. Meera relcutantly shook his hand, looking as if she expected a hug.
The two sat down at the table. Rishi was looking around while Meera's eyes were on him. "Do you remember this dress?" Meera asked. "You gave it to me on my birthday last year."
"Oh...yeah."
"You like it?"
"Yeah...its nice."
"Okay...let's just talk. How's Milli?"
"Milli?! Oh she's great! Just great! How are you?"
"I'm good. Just finished filming my first film."
"Oh...really?"
"Yeah. Its called Rangat-E-Ishq. Its a love story."
"Cool."
"Anyways...I need to talk to you...about us."
"I should've seen this coming!"
"No, no! I know about you and Milli!"
"Wait...what do you know?!"
"That you two are madly in love!"
"What?!"
"Yes! I honestly thought this marriage between you was all an act or something to please Randy uncle! But I guess I was wrong. When I saw you both dance yesterday...you were both magical. There was something between you two...that you and I didn't even have."
"Oh...really?"
"Yeah! So don't worry about me anymore. I'll admit...I still had something for you. But I'll get over it. Besides...I'll probably find someone better."
"Ha...that's funny."
"But really...you two are made for each other."
Are we really? Rishi asked himself.
"Anyways, I'm having a party tonight to celebrate the completion of my film. Its at my house. I'd love you for you to come. Bring Milli with you as well."
"Sure. I will."
Later in the day, Milli came home early from work after Rishi had called her to inform her about Meera's party. She went through her closet, going through all her dresses. She then came across a red saree with gold embroidery on it. She took the saree and headed into the bathroom to change. Rishi was already ready, dressed in a red velvet suit which matched his style. As he was combing his hair, he stopped upon seeing Milli come out, dressed beautifully in her saree. He turned to her, mesmerised by her beauty. But as she was walking towards the mirror, she was struggling to tie the dori strings of her blouse. "This is what I hate! These dori strings can never be tied!" Milli exclaimed as she continued to try and tie the strings.
"I can do it."
"What? No, you don't need to."
But Rishi pushed Milli's hands away from the strings, getting hold of them as he began tying them for her. Milli kept silent as she could feel Rishi pulling onto the strings, bringing her close to him as he tied them tighter. Once they were tied, he said, "Its done."
With that, Rishi grabbed hold of his car keys from the nightstand while Milli stood, in a daze. What was that? Milli asked herself.
"Shall we go now?" Rishi asked Milli. Milli nodded as she followed Rishi, grabbing her purse. The two then left the flat and got in Rishi's car, taking off to Meera's house. As they were in the car, Milli put on a pair of gold jhumka earrings on her ears, a gold chain around her neck, and two gold bangles on her hands.
Rishi parked the car before Meera's house and went inside with Milli. Meera then welcomed them in, hugging Rishi before Milli, making her a bit uncomfortable for some reason. She then turned to Milli and gave her a hug as well. "I'm so glad you both could come!" Meera exclaimed.
"Yeah. Congratualtions on your film." Milli said.
"Thank you!" Meera replied. "Rishi, come! Akshay's here!"
"Akshay! I'm coming, man!"
Milli watched as Rishi went with Milli to hang around with some friends. She stood near the snack table, alone and bored while others looked busy. She kept her eyes on Rishi, who was talking a lot to Meera and his other friends. She also noticed he already had two full glasses of wine and was now on his third. "Hi Milli." a voice said. Milli turned to her left to see Ankur was standing right next to her.
"Ankur?! What are you doing here?!"
"You probably didn't know. Meera and I were friends in college. In fact, we're still really close."
"Oh...I see."
"What makes you stand here alone?"
"Oh...its nothing. I was just-"
"Jealous of seeing Rishi with Meera?"
"What?!"
"Come on, Milli. I can see it. Your eyes are all on them. And its normal. Any wife who seeks the attention of her husband, must really love him."
Milli kept silent as she then looked at Rishi, laughing as he talked to Meera and his friends. "I have to say. I've known Rishi for some time. And I've never thought he could be serious about anyone," Ankur said. "But when I saw you two dance the other night...I knew there was something special between you two. So for you both...your marriage is a perfect union. You both are made for each other."
"Ankur-"
"I know. I still had feelings for you even after you rejected me. But now I just seek to find someone to love that has that same magic that I saw in you two the other night. No one can take that magic away."
Ankur then left as Milli stood, speechless. Could he be right? Milli asked herself. She then looked on, seeing Rishi coming in her direction. She stood, ready to come near him. Then, music started playing. And that was when people began dancing on the dance floor. Rishi then turned to Meera and in his seemingly drunk stupor, he started dancing with Meera to which she went along with. Milli watched in disappointment as Rishi and Meera looked as if they were having fun together.
Guess I was wrong, Milli said to herself.
In frustration, Milli headed out towards the door of the house to leave. Ankur then came to her and said, "Milli, where are you going?"
"I'm going home."
"Why? The party has just started!"
"I just remembered. I have some work to finish before tomorrow. So I should go. Tell Rishi that I left early. He can come when he wants to."
"Let me drop you home then."
"No, its okay! I'll take a rickshaw."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"Okay. Bye."
With that, Milli left the house and headed down near the sidewalk where a rickshaw pulled over after she waved to it. She got inside and the rickshaw driver took off. Milli sat in the rickshaw, seemingly sad. What's wrong with me? Milli asked herself. I shouldn't be feeling this way! Who cares if he's with that Meera girl?! Not me! I don't care!
Thirty minutes later, Ankur was driving Rishi home in his car. Meera had come along, driving in Ankur's car. Ankur and Meera both came out, helping Rishi get out as he seemed a bit drunk. "Three glasses of wine really got to you. You okay?" Meera asked Rishi.
"Yeah! I'm fine! I just need to go home and relax!" Rishi exclaimed.
"Shall we drop you to your flat?" Ankur asked.
"No, no! I can go!" Rishi replied.
"Are you sure?" Meera asked.
"Positive!" Rishi assured as he then made his way toward the apartment building.
"He'll be okay from here." Meera said.
"I guess so," Ankur said. "I'll drop you home. Come."
Meera followed Ankur in his car and Ankur took off. Inside the apartment, at the flat, Milli had already changed into a white salwar kameez. She sat before the dresser, taking a hair clip and putting her hair up with it. After she did so, she noticed Rishi come inside the room. But Milli didn't say a word. Until..."Why'd you leave?" Rishi asked as he came, walking towards Milli.
"I was tired. That's all." Milli replied as Rishi then took the nearest chair and pulled it over to sit next to Milli.
"Really?!" Rishi asked.
"Yes." Milli said sternly.
"You know, Milli...if I didn't know any better...I'd say you seemed jealous back there...seeing me with Meera," Rishi told Milli. Milli turned to Rishi, keeping the stern look on her face. "White's a nice color on you."
"You're drunk, Rishi," Milli responded. "I suggest you go to sleep."
Milli got up to leave, but was stopped by Rishi, who grabbed hold of her by her arm. "Let me say one thing. I could see something in your eyes when you saw me with Meera. I may be drunk...but I still see things properly. Things that matter at least," Rishi said. "And one thing matters right now only. I need to know...what is this between us?! Before we we're just two strangers that got married. But now there's something between us that's beyond any kind of relation. I feel it...and you feel it, too. Right?"
Milli looked into Rishi's eyes as he the hand that held her arm then glided up onto her shoulder as he then pulled her in his arms, holding onto her. Milli couldn't help but get lost in the moment as Rishi then removed the hair clip from her hair, releasing it down upon her shoulders. He brushed her locks of hair aside from her face, caressing her cheek as she looked into his eyes. She could feel them coming even closer to each other. His face brushing against the side of her cheek as he planted a kiss. And Milli did nothing. Because her feelings could no longer be concealed. She leaned in closer, planting a kiss of her own on Rishi's cheek. And then, when both of them were so close, their lips had touched.
They looked at each other, realizing something now. And that was when two wrapped their arms around one another, embracing each other passionately. And that was it. The two were now in love.
The blissful night came to an end when around midnight, the two were sound asleep in bed. Not separated on two sides of the bed as usual. But now together in each others arms as a blessed married couple.
Noyontara
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