OS : The Homecoming

The car glided across the busy Mumbai streets, headed towards one of the posh neighbourhoods in the city. Dr Nachiket Khanna was exhilarated to be finally back home, after a 2 months stint in Los Angeles. The corners of his mouth perked up in a smile as the consequences of his action rolled out like a film in front of his mind's eye.

His eyes lit up with happiness as the car stopped outside the gates of a two storeyed bungalow, decked up like a bride. It was Diwali after all. The sparkle of the lights caught his eyes and he slid out of the swanky vehicle. The tip was generous and bountiful, but the man of the moment was oblivious to everything else.

Picking his bag up, he swiftly crossed the garden illuminated by the light from the lamps decorating the house. He knew it was going to be as beautiful inside.

The front door was open, he could already smell the flowers and something else ...

Crackers. Yes, he could smell them ...

Diwali ... his favourite festival! He almost loved the sounds and smell of the crackers. And the illumination from the lit candles and diyas ... it was a part of his childhood that he cherished ... more than 500 diyas would light up their house and it would look heavenly... and then in evening he would burst crackers with his sister and friends. That was childhood.

And then there were the mythological stories which claimed bursting crackers were a surehshot way of shooing away the demons who roamed the earth. Dadaji ensured that they realised the significance of the festival. He would visit local orphanages and distribute sweets, new clothes and of course ... crackers!!!!

...

Sunny Tai spotted him first at the doorway, and her mouth opened wide in exclamation.

Nachiket shushed her immediately, his fingers on his lips. She just smiled and slid away, a thali of flowers in her hand.

The family was getting ready for the Puja, he knew.

Depositing his bag in the Study, which was now beautifully lit up by the diyas, he took off his shoes and ran up the stairs, two steps at a time. He could feel his heart thudding against his chest.

Another smell assaulted him ... sweets! His face now had a toothy grin plastered on it.

...

'Dad !' Aagham and Suhaani exclaimed together as he reached the landing. Ranbir and Aarav turned around, their countenances lit up by their smiles. Suhaani launched herself at him and he gently patted her head, as they walked towards the Puja room.

His eldest daughter, Nishi was busy decorating the puja altar, along with her Naani. He beamed as he bent down to touch his mother-in-law's feet

'Not here Nachiket, not inside the Puja Room ...' she gently admonished him, as she blessed him to her heart's content.

He smiled as he wiped away tears from her daughter's eyes

'Why did you go away for so long?' Nishi complained, as she hid her face in her Father's chest.

He patted her back

'I am now back, see? I won't go away again. Ok? No crying during a Puja. You are my doll, right?'

This earned him a smile from Nishi.

He whispered

'Where's your Mom?'

Nishi smiled understandingly. She whispered back

'In your room ... the final rangoli ...'

He sighed as he looked around at the expectant faces of his children

'I will freshen up for the Puja ...'

As he left for his room, Aarav sniggered in good nature 'He is searching for Mom ... how he managed to stay away for so long, I wonder?

This earned him a well-deserved swat on his head from his elder brother, Ranbir, and Naani clucked her tongue.

...

She was busy putting the final touches to the rangoli in their room, in the centre, and placed a lit diya in the middle of it, once she was satisfied with the design and colour of the rangoli. Her vision blackened as his palm covered her eyes.

'Nachiket ...' she whispered. His lips were now dancing on her temple as he slid down beside her on the floor, pulling her flush against his chest.

His bride ...

His wife ...

His lover ...

The love of his life ...

His universe ...

Her colour smeared fingers reached upto his cheeks, staining them, as she looked at him in disbelief ...

He captured a finger in his hand and kissed it fervently

'I know, I know, we will never be separate again ... I promise'

Tears welled up in her eyes. And his.

He continued 'I am sorry'

The dim light from the diya made his eyes gleam. He leant forward and kissed her dimples. She smiled.

Emboldened, he captured her lips. She kissed him back.

She was phenomenal in the deep maroon silk that she was wearing.

...

A hesitant cough broke the silence in the room, and she pushed him away.

It was Sunny Tai

'Ragini Tai, we are all ready for the Puja ...'

'Yes, yes' she replied, as he pulled her up, his other hand resting on her waist. Warm and possessive.

'Tonight' he whispered against the shell of her ear, as her eyes promised him back.

...

He sighed. She sighed. It was well past midnight.

They were finally together.

His lips were now dancing across her body; her eyes were like fireflies glowing in the dark - they were creating their own designs.

Their own story, their own romance.

'Beautiful' they both whispered in unison, and smiled.

He rested his head against her sternum and breathed deeply, her fingers now combing his hair affectionately.

He looked up and gazed into her eyes, almost unnerved by the love he saw there.

Kiss me Nachiket' she urged him. And he gladly complied, his fingers now mapping every inch of her exquisite skin.

Peach and silk, he thought. That's what she is.

As his lips trailed across her body, he was rewarded by a blush.

Incredible, he thought.

He claimed her lips again and kissed her fervently, he was ready to join in the worship, the ancient ritual of togetherness that was as old as the earth herself.

As he made love to her, he realised what he had been missing for so long - he now felt complete. All this time, he felt a part of himself missing.

He was tender, affectionate and passionate, and soon their moans and sighs filled their room. The light from the diya had faded by now, the moon rays now lighting up their bed.

...

She was in his arms, and she felt cherished and loved. And satiated.

She kissed him tenderly on his chest, just above his heart, and his lips found way to her head.

The view from their bed opened up to the night sky, now illuminated with stars, shining like a handful of diamonds, sparkling with life.

He wondered how he had not noticed so much beauty around him earlier, and he looked at her, now nestled in his arms. Her gaze was fixated on the night sky as well and she seemed mesmerised

'Nachiket, how did I miss all these beauty all this while?' she said softly.

He smiled at how they were thinking alike. He replied

'I know. However, I was searching for you, just you ... all the while'

She looked up at him and said in earnest

'I love you Nachiket, I have always been in love with you, I know for sure ...'

It was his turn to tear up. He whispered against her lips

'Then let me love you some more ...'

The remaining words drowning in the avalanche of passion that ensued.

The End

[This is a post for the Members of India Forums. Not intended for anywhere else in the Universe.]