FF: Love, Cherish me ~~ Epilogue ~~ - Page 6

Red Mark

Bihaan's bedroom:

Next morning...

Thapki came out of the bathroom freshly showered and looked over to the corner where Bihaan was exercising. His face had a grimace so that meant he was still sulking, she noticed and hid a smile; he looked so cute when he sulked like that, he thought he looked like a big bad wolf, but in actuality he looked like a fluffy, grumpy teddy bear which only made her want to hug him and pull his cheeks. Ku chi ku ...

Bihaan didn't think she would let it go so easily, did he? It took Thapki hours to tidy up the room, to clean up the mess Bihaan made all for nothing. She was within her rights to extract a little bit of harmless revenge for that. She had deleted Bihaan's precious game on his mobile last night and when Bihaan finally realised what she did... well, he was still not talking to her. Thapki broke out of her thoughts and took a deep breath.

It was time for her to take the biggest step of her life. If Bihaan didn't get the hint after this, motibuddhi could go to hell for all she cared; she huffed. She had been dropping hints about how she felt about him since quite a few days. She even asked him to sleep with her in the same bed...But stupid just did not get it. What was he really waiting for? For her to drop on her knees and profess undying love to him? huh! Only in his dreams!

But Thapki was genuinely confused too. Maybe Bihaan was not getting the hints because he really wasn't interested in her. But at times, she was almost sure he loved her. It was in the way he stared at her sometimes, the way he hold her small hand in his big one like it was his birthright, the way he tucked her hair behind her ear all the time, the way he always came to her rescue like a knight in shining armour, the way he always fulfil all her demands no matter how ridiculous those demands were. She knew Bihaan loved her, Damn it. But why didn't he do something about it? Thapki was super frustrated.

So it had come to this...do or die situation. She had to do it now. She ccoudn't go on like this...With a last look at him she came to stand in front of her dresser and opened the drawer where she had hidden it. She looked at the small pot of vermillion. Her hand was shaking when she applied it at her hair partition.

Done.

She felt different.

She felt like a wife.

She turned to look at Bihaan but buddhu was not looking at her.

Thapki began to go around the bedroom banging useless things and tidying up the already spotlessly clean room, making as much noise as possible. Bihaan was still not looking at her. UFF! That stubborn mule! Thapki felt like stamping her foot. Bihaan look at me! See how I look? Look up, baby, please? She cajoled in her mind.

But nothing was working. As a last resort she said,

"You know you c-can always download the g-game back, right?"

Bihaan was silent, he kept on flexing his muscles with his dumbbell.

"Okay, let me d-d-download it back for you" she made to grab his phone which was lying beside him. Bihaan grasped her hand before she could touch it.

"Don't...you...even dare... touch... it..." He muttered still not looking at her.

"Don't be so mean B-Bihaan. I am just trying to h-help you, let me download it b-back, ruko"

"Don't you think I did that already?? I was in level-357 and now I have to sta--" Bihaan froze mid sentence. He dropped his dumbbell on the floor.

Finally, Phew!

"Hmmm?" Thapki inquired innocently."You were saying?"

Bihaan was looking gobsmacked and he forgot to breathe. His eyes seemed to be glued on the red mark on her hair partition. Thapki didn't think he realized he was still holding her wrist on death grip.

"Th-Th-Thapki?" Bihaan stammered.

"Yes?"

"Yeh kya kiya tumne?kyon?"his words came as a whisper. She could see his adam's apple bob.

She tried to pour all her emotions into her eyes so that Bihaan could see. I want to be your wife in reality Bihaan. How can you still not get it? Thapki said with her eyes.

"Thapki---"

Bihaan's expression changed from shock to wonder... now he was looking at her like she was an apparition, he shook his head as if to clear it. Bihaan's heart was bursting in his chest. Does it mean what I think it means? She wants me! She is wearing sindoor in my name...I can see it in her eyes...she loves me...Dare I believe it?...is it a dream?..I dont want to wake up if it is a dream...someone please pinch me...

They were standing pretty close now, their bodies almost touching, Bihaan was still holding her one hand. Bihaan took hold of her other hand and brought both her hands to his heart. His heart was hammering fast... Their eyes locked and Thapki blushed.

"Woh -woh tum kal k-kehrethena k aaj kaal ladkiya...worries about their h-hair getting d-damaged. I was just s-s-showing you it is not true...I----"

Bihaan smiled indulgently, "Achcha?? Mujhe to kuch aur--"

"Thapki Beta? Bihaan? What-----" Vasu just barged in.

The lovebirds jumped apart like they had been caught stealing. Both of them flushed and stood three feet away from each other.

Bihaan gathered his wits first. "Ma, you have come out of your room finally...so good to see you...How are you feeling??"

But Vasu was looking pointedly at Thapki's forehead.

Thapki cleared her throat looking anywhere but at ma. She was mortified being caught like that.

Vasu could feel the sands slipping through her fingers. She couldn't let that happen. She couldn't let small unimportant obstacles stop her from getting back the happy family she dreamt off.

"THAPKI! Yek kya Kiya tumne? Where did this Sindoor come from?" she boomed.

Thapki couldn't seem to form an answer.

Bihaan jumped to rescue, "Woh Ma aise hi...yesterday I was teasing Thapki and she thought of..." Bihaan said the first thing that came to his mind.

"Sindoor is not a matter of joke, children, Thapki come with me at once..." She grabbed Thapki and dragged her to the bathroom.

Vasu stopped Thapki in front of the wash basin, and started filling the mug with water.

"Ma...k-k-kya kar rahe aap?" Thapki said shaking her head trying to twist away.

"Stand straight Thapki" Vasu barked.

Before Thapki could utter next sentence, Vasu had already dumped the water into her forehead. Thapki could feel the pale pink rivulets of water running down her face and she turned her head to see Bihaan standing like a statue by the bathroom door, shock etched his face.

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Chapter-5: The North and South Pole