CHAPTER 57
The door bell echoed as a sleepy constable rushed to get the gate opened. "Just 2 litres today bhaisa," he mumbled stiffling a yawn. There was no reponse from the visitor and no milk poured into the utensil he held. He reached for the glasses on his desk and wiped it before wearing it. Clang! the vessel slipped from his grasp when he noticed him. Major Rudra Pratap Ranavat was glaring at him. No doubt offended by being equated with the milkman. "S..s...so..sorr..." he tried to apologise but his tongue wasn't cooperating.
Rudra's glance moved to the badge of the negligent officer who was sleeping on the job. He could kiss his promotion good bye for the next 20 years. He wanted nothing more than chew his head off for his audacity. From which angle did he look like a milkman? Even if he was in civillian clothes shouldn't the man see the difference between his officers and the different vendors who frequent the general's residence.
The constable saw the officer's stance. He could feel the fury radiate off him in waves. This particular major was infamous for his temper. He shut his eyes and held his breathe waiting for the blow to come. Instead, a melodious voice floated into his ears, "Is everything alright Kakasa? What was all that noise?" He was relieved when he saw Mrs. Parvati Ranavat walk towards him.
She smiled when she saw her weary husband with his bags. Dressed in his favorite brown leather jacket and jeans. His moustache stopping that smile was threatening to show. Soft hair blowing in the wind contrasting with the anger in the narrowed eyes. He looked exactly the way he did when he rescued her in the dessert. Her hands went to her mangalsutr, the symbol of her union with him. He should have something to mark him as hers too.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw his belovd wife. She had just had her bath, her long dark hair slightly wet. Her eyes unmarked by the usual kolh lines that adorn them. Her shell like ears devoid of the jewellry dangling on it. On her neck lay black beads that were never taken off. She wore her white net saree with red border the one was saving for a special ocassions. She must be planning to go out.
She nervously looked away as he long perused her apperance. Was he going to scold her for appearing this way in public? If he took of his glasses, she would be able to discern his mood better. She adjusted her saree and waited for him to say something. "He just wanted to welcome me in band baraathi style," he said walking towards her. Another constable rushed towards them and picked up his bags. He tugged it back, "I can manage this. Why don't we go inform the general that his niece is the faster in response to unusual notices?" he asked snidely. The constable looked uncomfortably as Paro. He didn't want the major to report his tardiness. She shook her head reassuringly. "She can't help you," he informed in a severe tone. Security at the Singh's was no joking matter especially when his wife visited them.
Vicky was the first to notice him. "Oh no, we are having potatoes again aren't we?" he groaned. His father's laughter announced his arrival, "At least they won't be charred today." Rudra looked at his wife puzzle wondering how much she told him about. He noticed the constable sighing in relief. His lips turned to a cruel smirk, he hadn't forgotten, the man trembling in fright. The anger dissipated when he felt his wife's soft touch. "Why don't you freshen up quickly? We can all have breakfast together," she suggested leading him to the stairway.
The shrewd man that he was had noticed the tension between his young officer and the season constable. Upon enquiry, the man admitted his folly. Geethanjali shook her head disappointedly. Her husband understood how even butterflies can be very swift when they sense trouble. "I am not letting this go but I will grant you this choice only one of us will punish you. You can decide whether it is Rudra or myself," he informed.
The man folded his hands and begged, "Please Saab, I will do whatever you tell me. Don't let Rudra saab give me punishing assignments." Surprised by the supplicant attitude of one of his men he asked what terrible task did the major set for him. "Whoever gets on his bad side will be assigned as Paro madam's driver for a week," he confessed. Vicky rolled his eyes, Paro was one of nicest and most friendly people to be around. Geethanjali wasn't amused, "Taking care of my child is punishment for you lot? I can think of worse things."
The petrified constable shook his head vigorously. "Parvati madam is very good. Trouble is she is very friendly with the people she meets with, in the market, temple, NGO or where ever we take her," he explained. The general held his hand out stopping his wife from interrupting. "She sees the best in people.While that is wonderful thing, some people can be like Thakur Tejawat's wife who tried to take advantage of her. Even that dancer Laila has been trying to corner her. Making sure that such incidents don't repeat is very stressful when it is for an entire week," he continued. Especially when her husband was the fearsome Rudra Pratap Ranavat who would skin people alive if anything hurt his Paro, physically or emotionally, was his unspoken conclusion. But everyone in the room heard that part loud and clear. The general's glance moved upwards wondering if Paro's annocement would make him more protective than ever. Only time would tell.
Upstairs, Paro was lost in her own thoughts as she combed her hair. She wanted to tell Rudra as soon as he returned. Now that he had, she didn't know what to say. Rudra and family were a delicate balance. Even if his pupils didn't dialate when he heard baby', he still had to be eased in. She tossed the comb away in despair. This was precisely why she planned to go to the temple. Bholenath would be able to guide her knowing his namesake better than her.
Her hands went to her belly remembering her aunt's words, "I know you want a boy like Bholenath did. But it might be a girl too, with your sweet smile and pretty eyes. So when you pray for your baby, ask for a healthy and happy child. The gender never matters for a mother. I should know. Because when I was pregnant, I hoped for a girl. But when Vicky was born no one was happy to see his little fingers and toes. I had to wait years to get a daughter until you came into our lives. So remember this mother's advice." She wiped her eyes of the tears that welled up.
"Paro!" he called his wife opening the bathroom door slightly. She turned towards him and he asked for the towel. "There is an extra one right next to mine. You can use that," she replied and went back to wear her white rhinestone earring with a red drop. "Paroo!" he called again making her almost drop the piece of jewellry. "I need a bar of soap," he told her curtly. She tried to remember if there was soap when it hit her. Major Rudra Pratap Sharma can't step out of the house smelling like roses. She dug through his bag for his brand of soap.
He waited impatiently for her to come close. Didn't she know that BSD men are never ill prepared? The towel and now soap were just a ruse. Only his wife could be so innocent not to guess his motive in the well stocked bathroom. She held out a box and asked, "Is there anything else you want?" He grabbed her and pulled her in without any warning.
She almost screamed until his palm covered her lips. "Do you want to leave?" he asked huskily. She nodded. "You weren't so frightened after Sumer's reception," he reminded her. Predictably her face turned warm as blood rushed to flood her cheeks as she remembered their last time. She gulped when she realised what he intended for them. She pushed him back gently wondering if this could harm the new life taking form within her. She missed him terribly. But she was no longer the Paro he left behind. She needed to protect her precious cargo.
He looked at her downcast eyes and made quick calculations in his head. It can't be that time of the month when she is usually squeamish around him. He watched her let herself out, worried about this new distance. The glow on her face, the smile on her lips were still there but her eyes held secrets. He willed himself to stay calm. This was his Paro. Whatever it was she would tell him when she was ready.
She felt his eyes on her as she wore the rhinestone anklets he had once gotten her. She saw him button the shirt of his BSD uniform and sighed. Of course he was going to work first. There must be reports to be filed from his mission. "What is it?" he barked unable to tolerate her hestinance. "Are you going to BSD now?" she asked gingerly. He shook his head replied that he was going to the desert to plant a tree. She decided to talk to him later unamused by his sarcasm.
He caught her hand as she walked past him to the door. "Do you want me to drop you somewhere?" he asked softly. She confessed that she wanted him to come to the temple with her. He looked at his watch and agreed. His files could wait another hour. She gave him a small smile which he returned. Maybe her old friend and his namesake might clue him in and what was going on in his mind.
He watched her face keenly as he drove. She had a strange far off look. As if some great joy is just beyond the horizon. He almost expected her to stretch out her fingers and grab it. But the fingers were in another world wrapped around her delicate form. "Are you alright?" he asked making sure she was comfortable. She smiled at him, "We are almost there."
He parked the jeep and helped her out. She was a few paces ahead of him walking slowly with the puja thal in her hands. His gait was slower as he remembered this particular temple. She had shattered his dreams once here when she called the general's residence her home. He shook himself. That day will never repeat while he breathed. He had won her over and by his said she will stay forever.
She finished her prayers quikly and looked for him. He wasn't the religious type and preferred to watch by the sidelines than bow before the presiding deity. She found him looking a young couple playing with a little baby. She yielded to the divine grace for this openning. "We will have this too, you know," she said pointing to little family. Someday, they would he replied aware of her dreams for family of her own. "In a few months, to be honest," she whispered conspirationally.
He almost jumped in shock. What was she saying? His hand went to his mouth. Were they? His hand went to her waist barren of the chain that usually adorns it. "I'm pregnant," she said directly. He stepped back. Was she serious? "I was wondering how to tell you. But you are my Rudra. The simplest words are enough for us to communicate, sometimes even our silences are enough," she answered cupping his cheeks gently.
He covered her hands with his and asked, "Are you sure?" She replied that her aunt had taken her to the doctors and gotten some tests done. His eyes moved again to the womb that now carried the symbol of their life. "I was showing all the symptons. But still they wanted to confirm before telling Bapusa. But I wanted you to tell you. Whether it is true or not, we can hope together," she admitted.
He wrapped his arm around his shoulder and gently led her to the jeep. "I will pick up the reports on my way back," he assured her. She didn't want that. They had to find out together. "I will not read it till I meet you at Singh Sir's residence," he relented. He kissed her forehead lovingly and drove her away.
Ufff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil
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