You Are In Love | One Shot
Tiwari Killa was buzzing with excitement. The entire family, barring Nanu, were busy in making their house spic and span for the guests that were arriving in an hour. Today was Suman Tiwari's, the eldest Tiwari daughter, rishtaa. But that wasn't the only thing that had them excited. The family had seen Suman at a function and the ladies of the house had fallen in love with her in one glance. After they had asked around and found out that she was the granddaughter of Raghuvir Tiwari, they hadn't wasted time contacting him and letting him know of their intentions.
While every part of the house was filled with excited chatter and laughter, the kitchen was filled with silence except for the sizzling sounds of the hot oil in the wok as Suman was cooking up a storm in that space.
Cooking was not only her passion but was also a way to be closer to her parents and keep their memory alive through it. What she was most thankful for was that she was able to turn her passion into a full-time job and had her own Tiffin and Catering Service that she absolutely adored and looked forward going to every day, even when it got hectic.
"Suman! Is everything ready?!"
Manju Mami's voice brought Suman out of her daydreams and she was thankful for that because another minute and the pakodas would have been food for the animals. Quickly taking out the pakodas from the kadhai she puts them on the plate that is covered with tissue.
After that, there is a constant incoming and outgoing of the family members to and fro from the kitchen helped Suman keep her mind off of the people that were about to arrive soon.
"Suman," Manju Mami came huffing inside the kitchen. "What are you still doing here? Go get dressed!"
"Mami, just one minute," Suman pleaded as she cut the coriander that was to be used as a dressing for the channa she had made.
Deftly taking the knife from her, Manju Mami silently pointed towards the kitchen door.
"Fiiiiine," Suman dragged and she started to walk away as Manju took her place behind the kitchen counter when she stopped and walked back to the work counter sitting on the chair opposite Manju.
"Mami?" Suman called out hesitantly.
"Yes?" Manju replied looking up at Suman for a split second before resuming with her work.
"This family...this boy...What if I don't like them? What if I don't like him?" Suman voiced her concerns that she had been holding back since the phone rang and their arrival was planned.
"What do you mean?" Manju questioned, frowning at her niece as she wiped her hands on the towel and came to stand in front of her.
Suman changed her thought process and tried a different tactic to explain what she meant. "You know why I am and have been shying away from any kind of relationship that isn't family, right?"
Manju just nodded her head and urged Suman to go on.
"It has taken me two years to find myself and let go of everything that had happened. What if I'm not ready? What if I don't like this boy or the family? What if I am too damaged to be in any kind of relationship?" Suman started hurling questions at her aunt in agitation.
"Suman, calm down," Manju spoke softly. For the next few minutes, she just stared at her, watching her pull herself together as she came up with an answer that would put the child in front of her at ease.
"That is a lot of what-if's beta, but you have to start somewhere, right? You have to learn to get up and put one step in front of the other and walk slowly before you start running. We all know that you are broken by your last relationship and nobody faults you for that but rather than seeing that as an end of something why not make it a learning experience? You know what you want and know how two people should be treated in a relationship. Just remember one thing, no relationship is perfect. Not mine, not Rachna's or for that matter you grandparents or parents. We've all had to fight hard, some more than others; you need to learn that it is important that in a relationship there are two people and it is you two against the world. If you fight together, nothing in this world can bring your relationship down."
"I'm still not sure..." Suman muttered quietly.
"We never are until we meet the one," Manju reassured her with a secretive smile on her face and ushered Suman out of the kitchen, telling her that it was too late and the guests were going to arrive any second.
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Two cars entered the gates of Tiwari Killa and rolled to a stop. One by one people got down from the cars, dressed impeccably, and moved towards the main door and rang the doorbell.
The double doors opened with a whoosh by Manji, who was stumped by the beauty of the entire family, but quickly recovered and welcomed them all with a huge smile.
Entering the living room, they were greeted by the remaining Tiwari's and sat down, the ladies and gents of the family hitting it off quickly. Everyone was laughing at Daboo who was petulantly questioning why they were taking away his sister from him when the Tiwaripatriarch entered the room, effectively silencing everyone as they stood up to greet him.
Raghuveer Tiwari looked at the guests that had arrived at his house, his gaze stopping on one tall man standing beside a woman clad in a banarsi saree and smiled at the two. "Ramnath Nirmala," he called out to them and the two of them quickly moved forward, touching his feet and taking his blessing, a smile intact on all three of their faces.
"Tiwariji," Ramnath said with utter reverence and respect in his tone. "Kaise hai aap?"
"Mein vaisa hi hu jaisa bahut saal pehle tha," nanu replied laughing.
"Nirmala, kaisi hai meri bacchi?" Nanu asked, caressing the palm of his hand over the woman's head.
"Bilkul badiya, Tiwariji! Aur aap itne salo min bilkul nahi badle." Nirmala marvelled at the man who had been a father figure in her life.
"Babuji, ab toh bata do ki aap inko kaise jaante ho," Sameer asked the one question that had been floating in every Tiwari's mind.
Introducing himself to the rest of the family one by one, everyone sat back down and looked at Nanu with keen interest. "Ramnath was fresh out of school when he started as an intern in the firm I worked in at the time. He was placed under me and we worked on a lot of cases. Well, he actually assisted me. He had been promoted from intern to junior lawyer when he met Nirmala. It was my last year in the firm before I retired, Ramnath had already left to start his own firm with his new wife by his side. I kept in touch and always knew what was going on with these two, even knew and met them when their son was born."
At that statement, another tall man with chocolate brown eyes and a chiselled face that sported a stubble looked up curiously at the aged man sitting in front of him.
"I don't remember you," he said quietly, his brown furrowed which made Nanu laugh.
"Well, you were around 6, I think, the last time I saw you, so I don't think you would remember much. Tell me do you still love cars now as much as you did back then?" Nanu asked with a sparkle in his eyes.
Looking at him a little dumbfounded, he looked at his parents briefly who were smiling at the conversation happening and just nodded in reply.
"You had a yellow car, your first toy car, which sparked your interest in this subject," Nanu added.
"I remember that. I loved that car so much until it broke and couldn't be fixed."
"Tiwariji was the one who gifted you the car," Nirmala added, completing the puzzle. "For a very long time he was your favourite person, Shravan and your father couldn't do anything about it." Nanu laughed at the that.
Both the families were getting along really well. Laughter, tea, stories, snacks and anecdotes were being passed around the living room when Nanu's voice broke through. "Arre, Suman ko to leke aao. Jisko dekhne aye hai, usko bhul gaye sare."
Manju chucked and quickly went inside Suman's room and found her sitting on her bed, facing away from the door. "Suman," she called out softly prompting her to turn around. "Chale?"
Giving a nod in the form of an answer both of them walked out the room and into the excited chatter.
Suman's heart was thundering in her chest as she stepped out of the room. A hush fell around the room as everyone looked at the brown-eyed girl enter the room. Dressed in a yellow anarkali suit with a gold self-print and a sheer white dupatta which was peppered with silver sequence twinkled under the lights of the room and just added to her glow.
Not one to shy away like a typical bride-to-be, Suman looked head-on at the family that had come to see her. Manju made her sit beside Nanu and stood behind her, her hands on her shoulder which seemed to calm Suman down a little.
"Beta yeh hai Ramnath —"
"Malhotra?" Suman interrupted with a question, looking at the man with a strong presence who seemed familiar but was still a stranger. "Your one and an only intern from when you worked in the firm." Suman finished making Ramanth chuckle and Nanu shake his head at his granddaughter
"So you were listening." Nanu teased.
"I am always listening," Suman retorted giving him a small smile.
Turning to face the guests once again she looked at the woman sitting beside him. "You must be Nirmala Malhotra. My Nanu is obsessed with you," Suman pointing out frankly putting emphasis on 'obsessed' and making everyone in the room laugh out loud.
Manju squeezed her shoulder and Suman looked up to find her smiling down at her. When Suman righted herself she saw three men sitting in front of her, grinning at her. It took her a second to place them but when it clicked, a radiant smile broke on her face that stopped the Tiwari's in their spot for it had been a long time since they had seen her smile like this.
Suman stood up and without a thought hugged the first guy. "Pushkie Pie."
"Seriously?" Pushkar lightly pushed her away and mock frowned her. "You meet me after years and that is how you greet me?" Pushkar might have been frowning on the outside but on the inside only he knew how good to felt to hear that name from him.
He hadn't seen her in a few years. Whenever he tried to get her to meet him she would always make an excuse until one day she didn't pick up the phone and he wasn't the only friend she ghosted. Their entire friend circle tried to contact but she never had the time. He never really knew the reason behind why she went cold turkey but he had his suspicions.
"Yes. Yes, I do because that is how I've always greeted you," Suman replied with fake seriousness making Pushkar shake his head at his best friend's antics.
"Suman Puttar," sang the man standing beside Pushkar making Suman smile more, even if that was possible. "Kaisi hai?"
"Lalaji," She called out fondly folding her hands to greet him. "Bilkul theek. You haven't changed one bit," Suman said softly, a pang hitting her chest at the man who had made her laugh out loud and made her days brighter on multiple occasions.
"Agar aap dono ka ho gaya ho toh thoda side ho, ab meri baari."
"Varun Bhaiya," Suman squealed making the man smile and laugh.
"Suman?"
Turning around she realized that everyone was staring at the four of them with questions in their eyes.
"Umm, yeh Pushkar hai. We both were in the same class in school, the Commerce section and college were also the same. He was getting his Law degree while I pursued Business. I used to meet Lalaji when he used to come to pick Pushkar up sometimes and same with Varun Bhaiya here."
"Yeh lo, ek aur connection nikla Malhotra's aur Tiwari's ke beech mein."
Pushkar went on further to introduce Suman to his mother who had heard a lot about his son's best friend but never had the chance to meet her. Kamini just stared at Suman with such awe in her eyes, which didn't go unnoticed by anyone, like she had hung the moon and stars and proceeded to hug her.
After a few more introductions, Pushkar moved from his seat beside Shravan and made Suman sit beside him instead.
Shravan moved a little and sat up straighter when the girl who his mother and Chachi had selected for him.
Shravan couldn't have agreed more with his mother. She was beautiful and he hadn't been able to move his eyes away from her. From the moment she had entered the room, Shravan knew that she had the mettle and could hold her own in any situation that would come her way. The way she met her father's eyes, head-on without flinching, filled him with glee for some unknown reason. But there was something about her, something that he couldn't pinpoint what, but he felt there was something she was hiding. There was a pain but there was also resolve that shone in her eyes.
Whatever may come, Shravan Malhotra was sure of one thing and that was that he wanted to marry Suman.
Shravan was brought out of his musings when his mother started to speak. "Tiwariji, Kamini and I loved Suman from the moment we saw her, Pushkar, Lala and Varun are fond of her too and knowing she is your granddaughter is more than I could have asked for. We would love to have her as our daughter-in-law."
The hum of excitement rose as everybody was happy with the announcement but Suman was having trouble. She could see that everyone in her family was happy with the alliance but at the end of the day the final decision was hers and Shravan's and before Shravan could make a decision, Suman knew she had to come clean. He had the right to know so when she uttered the next words, she had silenced the happy chatter in a second.
"Can I speak to Shravan, please? Alone?"
Nanu understanding what was happening nodded his head in consent and Suman moved out of the room and started for the terrace, asking Shravan to follow which he did silently.
Nirmala looked on at the retreating figures and wondered what was going on. She looked at Nanu for guidance and he just blinked his eyes slowly, telling her not to worry about anything.
Suman stood facing towards the road, her lower body resting on the cement railing and her arms wrapped around her as if she was trying to hold herself and Shravan stood a few steps away on her left, leaning on his side his arms folded as he stared at the woman in front of him.
"What do you want to talk about?" Shravan asked softly when she hadn't spoken for a while.
"I think you should know the person whom your parents want to marry." Suman started.
"Okay..." Shravan prompted her to go on.
"A few years ago I was in a relationship. It was good. Actually, it was more than good, it was great. He was perfect, we were perfect and we loved each other a lot. We were together for two years when everything started to change. It wasn't a sudden but a gradual change. It started with him calling me whenever I went out. He always wanted to know what I was doing, who I was with and where I was. I just thought, initially anyway, that he was being overprotective, well that's what he used to tell me anyway, that he was protective.
As months went by it started to move on further and he would tell me what to eat, what to wear, when to go out, he regulated my friends and the time I spent with them until I stopped meeting them all together. He hated that I wanted my own business and we had a fight about it. It wasn't the first time we had fought though but he always apologized and me being the blind fool in love always forgave because I felt guilty about the way I spoke to him. But that night, I had had enough so said some not so great things and he walked out. And there I was, sitting in a room where I was going to start my business and the one person I loved and wanted to support from didn't give me any."
Suman stopped talking and it was only then she realized that Shravan hadn't said anything. She turned to face him to gauge his reaction and to her surprise his face was impassive, not a single emotion visible, so she steeled herself to give the final blow. She stared at him straight in the eyes and uttered the words.
"I was in an abusive relationship for 3 years, Shravan and those 3 years changed me in ways that I never imagined. He never raised his hand on me but it doesn't make it any less abusive. It's taken me more than a year to find myself, to fix my broken self-esteem. To not micro judge everything I wear, eat or do. I'm broken, to be honest. Scarred. And I don't know if I have it me for another relationship. Just know that if you say yes, I might never be able to give my hundred per cent."
After a long pause, Shravan took a staggering breath and spoke softly, "Why did you tell me this?" He was confused why she would tell him, a complete stranger all this, but there was a part of him, a huge chunk actually that admired her for telling him the truth. She could have easily said no and moved on or could have kept quiet and accepted her family's wishes but something told me that while she would do anything to keep her family happy, she wouldn't sacrifice another person to achieve her goals.
What she had just revealed required guts and at that moment Shravan added another adjective to his list that described the beauty in front of him — Strong.
"You needed to know the truth. I guess it matters a lot to you that your family gets along with me, but to me, it matters that you know the truth before getting on board with the decision that your mother made. Isn't that what lawyers do? You set yourself to learn the truth, get your facts checked before you go all in?"
At that analogy, Shravan smiled and Suman could swear that her heart stopped for a minute.
Shravan stood in this same position for a few more minutes, his brows pulled in as he contemplated something before coming to a decision and walked down back to the living room, Suman trailing slowly a few feet behind him, her heart once again thundering in her chest because she knew what was coming next.
Suman entered the room with small steps and looked at her family for a second before she averted her eyes and looked at Shravan who stood in front of the coffee table facing everyone as he spoke.
"Suman and I talked. I can't tell you about what —" Shravan went on interrupting his mother and looked at her pointedly because he knew she wanted to ask what happened "— because that is between her and me but I've made a decision. I know you are not going to be happy with it but in the end, it is me who has to marry."
Knowing what was going to happen next, Suman was prepared for the disappointed faces from everyone but this was especially hard because this was one of her best friends family. Among that was a silver lining though, her family knew she was going to tell Shravan about her past and they actually supported that idea so they would understand if he would say no.
"I like Suman." Shravan started once the chatter died down making Suman snap her eyes up to him in shock as he continued. "I like her but I don't want to jump straight into marriage. I would like time to know her and for her to know me. I want to see if we are compatible and if we can build a relationship that is trustworthy but most of all I want to see if we can be friends. If it works in our favour, Suman and mine, then we both will decide if or when we want to get married and if it doesn't, I know there won't be any hard feelings because we tried. Does that work for everyone?"
Shravan finished and turned his head slightly to look at Suman who was looking at him with shock. He understood her reaction but he wanted to get to know her. When she was telling him about the abuse she faced at the hands of her ex, some unknown emotion was bubbling inside him. On one hand, there was this innate need inside him that was wanting to hold her and comfort her and on the other, he wanted to find that ex and beat the hell out of him for what he put her through.
Both the families agreed and thought it to be a reasonable enough demand. Suman breathed a sigh of relief that she didn't know she was holding.
An hour later the Malhotra's left for their home, even more in love with Suman and the relationship she had forged in a few hours with all the members of the family. Nirmala knew that even if the wedding didn't happen, her son had found a friend, a confidant for life in Suman.
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The next four months were spent with Shravan and Suman learning about each other. Their likes and dislikes, what made them tick and what made them happy.
Shravan used to look forward to the days he would meet Suman, sometimes for lunch, sometimes for something as small as coffee, or dinner if they finished early. He could see that Suman was actually putting an effort to see if this relationship would work and he couldn't be more appreciative of the fact that she hadn't written him off because of her previous relationship.
Suman was reserved in the beginning but when she realized that Shravan didn't want anything more than friendship at this stage she got comfortable. She answered all the questions he asked about her and appreciated how he didn't force to share anything.
They talked about Suman's previous relationship. When Shravan had asked her about it, Suman had shut down but then he explained he wanted to understand how the abuse had affected her and her life.
"It's a part of you, an integral part and I just want to understand you better."
Taken aback with his reasoning and realizing that he genuinely wanted to understand Suman started to talk even though she wasn't comfortable with the idea of Shravan imagining what it would have been like.
"I can see you uncomfortable but I want to tell you one thing and I hope you remember it always. You are strong. You were strong —" Shravan spoke but was interrupted by Suman. "I'm not."
"You are," Shravan said with such vehemence. "You were strong enough to leave that relationship, to realize him for what he was and not cower under him. If anyone is not strong, it's him."
That night and a few nights after that a lot of tears were shed but Shravan was always there as her friend to help her pick up the pieces and put them back up.
Suman thought of herself as broken and Shravan saw the broken lines as a testament of a woman who went through hell and endured and came out strong. Anyone without scars was not considered strong for the had only experienced the good without the bad and looked at the world with rose-tinted glasses.
Four months later, after countless talks and tears and laughs, trust being build one day at a time and moments spent in solitude, they both sat their families down and let them know what they had decided.
"We want to get married," Suman announced for the both of them as Shravan held her hand in solidarity reaffirming the statement.
Excited with the news of the wedding both the families got down to work and planned for the big day and two months later, Suman and Shravan tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony all thanks to their families and how they kept in mind everything the bride and groom liked.
Tears were shed as the Tiwari's bid goodbye to the eldest daughter of the house; they knew the atmosphere in the house was going to be different from now on.
Suman settled well with the Malhotra's and her transition from Tiwari to Malhotra was seamless, as if she was always meant to be a part of this family. Three months later Suman told the family about her previous relationship and the reactions were varied. Varun Bhaiya and Pushkar were mad as hell, the parents were stunned but though all the tsunami of emotions Shravan stood behind her, holding her as she laid herself bare.
It felt like a weight was lifted from her shoulder and everyone could see that. Pushkar hugged her tight and hoped that one day his brother would get the chance to see the Suman from before, the one who was unrestrained and full of life even in the toughest of situations.
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One look, dark room
Meant just for you
Time moved too fast
You play it back
Buttons on a coat
Light-hearted joke
No proof, not much
But you saw enough
Shravan was in his room, sitting on the sofa that had been pushed back against the wall so it was under the window, as he studied his case file. Suman was rummaging around her closet, setting her draws when the electricity went out. She waited for the back-up generator to kick in but nothing happened. Through the slated walls of the closet, she saw Shravan bathed in the moonlight looking at her when they heard the Lalaji's voice letting everybody know that he was going to check what was wrong.
Shravan knew that Suman loved the dark and often found her sitting in the room with the lights out, listening to her favourite tunes but there was a small part of her where the 6-year-old Suman resided who was still scared of the dark.
He continued to look at her, could hear her taking deep breaths to calm herself down. It was taking her some time so he decided to lighten the mood and shift her focus.
"Suman? Are you exercising in the dark?" Shravan asked, hiding his laughter.
Suman paused at her husband's out of the blue and weird question. "Umm... No. Why?"
"No, I just thought you were doing jumping up and down or something with the way you are breathing."
There was a long pause before Suman spoke. "Shravan?"
"Yes, Suman."
"Were you trying to be funny?"
"I guess?" It sounded more like a question than a statement to Shravan.
"It's sad you can't see me right now because I'm staring at you, disappointed."
"Hey!"
"That was so bad, Shravan." Suman groaned in absolute despair making Shravan laugh out loud. Not able to hold back after he started laughing, Suman joined him as well, shaking her head at his not-so failed attempt to make her laugh.
Small talk, he drives
Coffee at midnight
The light reflects
The chain on your neck
He says, "Look up"
And your shoulders brush
No proof, one touch
But you felt enough
"Suman. Chalo na!" Shravan whined from his spot on the bed as he tried to convince Suman to go for a drive.
This was a ritual they both had started a few months into their marriage, reserved only for Friday and Saturday. Today was Friday and as per the norm they were to go out but while Suman was off from work tomorrow Shravan had to be in court tomorrow at 8 and knowing that he had a tendency to sleep well until his alarm had blared, Suman refused to go and wanted him to sleep early.
It was only 10 PM and usually their drives happened at around 11 so looking at the desperate face of Shravan for another half an hour, Suman gave up and finally relented. Shravan whooped and fist bumped in the air eliciting an eye roll from Suman.
He started the car and with no destination in mind, he drove around aimlessly on the less crowded streets of Connaught Place. His phone was connected to the Bluetooth and soft music played in the background as the two of them talked in intervals.
Sometime later Suman had drifted off to sleep, but still aware of her surroundings, when Shravan stopped the car in front of a coffee shop.
"Suman," Shravan called out softly running his fingers slowly through her hair to rouse her from her nap.
"Hmm..." She turned her head lazily towards him and smiled.
"Coffee?"
Nodding her head in the form of an answer Shravan got down and ordered an espresso for himself and a cappuccino for Suman in to-go cups.
Suman grabbed the cups as Shravan sat in the car and started to drive again. He stopped in front of a park that was just a few minutes away. Both of them got out and moved to their usual bench.
Unlike the other nights the two of them weren't talking nonstop and over the course of the months in their marriage they realized that they didn't need to talk to fill the silence. They were content with being quiet as long as they were in the same room.
"Suman. Look up," Shravan's voice was filled with wonder which made Suman follow his command.
Looking up her eyes widened at the sight before her. Thanks to the rain yesterday and this morning the sky was clear and for the first time in a very long time, she could see stars twinkling and the moon was shining brightly.
She was still looking up when she felt Shravan wrap his arm around her shoulder and pull her in on his side making her heart beat faster and calming her down at the same time. She had so many emotions inside her, bubbling, and for the first time, she wasn't afraid of the things she felt for Shravan because she knew he would never hurt her.
Morning, his place
Burnt toast, Sunday
You keep his shirt
He keeps his word
And for once you let go
Of your fears and your ghosts
One step, not much
But it said enough
It was an unusual Sunday. The entire Malhotra clan was in Chandigarh and Suman and Shravan were at home by their lonesome. They wanted to spend the Sunday morning relaxed and work free so after the morning chores were done they told the servants to go back home.
Shravan sat on the kitchen countertop pouting away like a child because he wanted to make breakfast for the two of them but he had managed to burn everything he cooked and now Suman was a quick brunch for them, chuckling every time she saw his face.
She plated the food and handed him one plate and put a glass of juice beside him and then moved to sit beside him with her plate and juice.
"You know if I didn't know any better, I would have thought you purposely burned what was supposed to be our breakfast so that I would cook."
"You figured my diabolical plan, didn't you?"
"I know you better than you think I do, Mr Malhotra," Suman replied cheekily and impulsively planted a kiss on his cheek.
Both of them stopped for a minute at the action. Shravan was taken aback but there was a smile on his face. This was the first time his wife had initiated any type of physical contact. There were hugs, cuddles and handholding but this was the first time they had kissed, well a kiss on the cheek anyway.
Suman was surprised by how natural that move was for her. She didn't have to think or contemplate, she just went ahead and it felt right. Since they decided to get married she had realized that he was toppling her walls down one brick at a time and she hadn't put any distance between.
Shravan had kept his word of always making her feel loved and cherished and she couldn't have been happier. She was glad that he was breaking her barries; actually, looked forward to his questions. He chipped away through the layers of hurt, betrayal and fear and made a place for himself.
Looking at Shravan smiling at her, there was this weird feeling in her chest that energized her from her core and she knew what that feeling was.
She was in love with her husband.
One step, not much
But it said enough
You kiss on sidewalks
You fight and you talk
One night he wakes
Strange look on his face
Pauses, then says
"You're my best friend"
And you knew what it was
He is in love
Suman and Shravan's first anniversary was in a month and a half but the Malhotra clan was already gearing up for a party.
Every day something new was added to the already ostentatious list and the constant questions from them were getting to the pair. The constant changes and suggestion giving and the subsequent vetoing and making another plan altogether, grander than the last was taking a toll on them.
On multiple occasions, it became too much and they both would end up having a fight about the whole thing. Lately, the fights were more in number, the stress of their work and family was bleeding together which resulted in both of them lashing out their frustrations at each other.
Frustrated with everything and everyone in the house, Shravan sent a message to Suman to come home as soon as she was done with her work and pack an overnight bag.
Two hours after she had reached home and packed a bag, Shravan stuffed both of their bags in a trunk started the car and drove off to their farmhouse on the outskirts of Delhi, away from his family and away from all the hubbub.
On the way to the farmhouse, Shravan had got some food packed for dinner and upon reaching the house the first thing he did was empty the food containers and asked Suman to change into something comfortable.
That night they both laid in the garden after dinner and talked about all the things that were bothering them. It was a long talk full of apologies for the fights and frustrations, of laughter and smiles, of silence and tranquillity, and of kisses in between.
They were quiet for a while and Suman thought that Shravan had dosed off to sleep when he suddenly sat up and turned to look at her. He looked down at her as if he had figured out something when he started to speak.
"You know, I was the nerdy kid in school and people by association didn't want to be my friend because it was all about being the cool kid but that was something I couldn't do so I put my head down, stayed out of everybody's way and finished school. I mean I have friends from London who I studied with and helped me embrace my nerdiness and celebrated that but I never had someone to call my best friend. Someone who knew me inside out. For so long my brothers were my friends but even then it was different."
Suman just looked at him as he spoke, a smile playing on her face as she imagined a teenage Shravan being proud of his intelligence. He had his insecurities sure, but his ability to like himself the way he had been and the way he is now always made her proud.
"What I'm trying to say is, Suman, you are my best friend." Shravan declared, looking at her.
Surprised his statement Suman looked at Shravan and gauged his reaction. Shravan was looking at her with such a soft look on his face, he truly believed that his wife was his best friend because she knew all there was to know about him and still managed to be surprised. There was something in his expression, something that hadn't been there before that made Suman pause.
It was his eyes. They were shining as if he had just said that he loved her and maybe at that moment Shravan truly did fall in love with her.
So it goes
You two are dancing in a snow globe, round and round
And he keeps a picture of you in his office downtown
And you understand now why they lost their minds
And fought the wars
And why I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words
Shravan and Suman were dancing to a slow number as they celebrated their first anniversary.
After days and days of planning, they both put their foot down with their family and told them what they wanted. An intimate gathering of their family and closest friends in the evening in the backyard.
Suman requested for fairy lights and asked that they be the only decoration including flowers, tulips for her and roses for Shravan, and tea light candles.
Shravan requested for soft music, a collection of their favourite songs in a pen drive and speakers placed strategically for maximum effect instead of dance numbers and a DJ. Tables all around for the guests to sit an eat with ease and hold conversations with each other.
In the end, it turned out exactly how they had asked for and they couldn't have been happier.
"So when are you keeping a picture of me in your office?" Shravan teased making Suman laugh.
It was this afternoon, Suman was off from work today so she went to the firm at around 4 knowing that was the time he had his coffee. Looking at Suman entering with two piping cups, more like mugs, of coffee, Shravan was thankful for that interruption and quickly moved to the sofa in his cabin.
Half an hour later, Shravan was packing up his stuff and locking his draws and cupboards when he asked Suman to pick up the files on his desk.
As she was about to pick up the files she saw a photo frame on his desk, one holding her picture and the other from their wedding. "You keep a picture of me on your desk?" Suman whispered.
"Huh?" Shravan questioned not having heard her question.
"You keep a picture of me on your desk?" She repeated clearly.
"I do," Shravan admitted with a grin.
"Why?" Suman was bewildered.
"Because you are my friend? And also because I can't call you all the time, so when I'm stuck I talk to your picture and question 'What Would Suman Do?' and it generally helps me." Shravan explained seriously.
"Best friends don't frame their best friend's photo and put it in their office, Shravan," Suman replied with a deadpan voice.
"Well, its good you are my wife, isn't it?" Shravan finished, interlacing his fingers with hers and pulling her out of the cabin.
Suman was brought out of her musings about today afternoon when Shravan nudged her, "So?"
"No. I am not putting your picture in my office," She replied with finality. "My staff is already obsessed with you and your looks, I can't have them surrounding my desk and ogle your picture every chance they get."
Shravan burst out laughing as he twirled Suman around the dance floor dancing away in the night as the party started to wind down.
You can hear it in the silence, silence
You can feel it on the way home, way home
You can see it with the lights out, lights out
You are in love, true love
You are in love
Later, after everybody had gone home and the rest of the Malhotra's had gone to bed, Shravan and Suman were still dressed to the nines and sitting in the garden.
"Suman?" Shravan asked hesitantly.
"Hmm?"
"Dance with me?" He stood up holding his hand out to her.
"Again?" She asked taking his hand as he pulled her up and put his hands around her waist and pulled her close to him and started to sway without music.
Shravan's heart was thundering in his chest as he braved himself to speak the words that explained what he felt for Suman.
He pulled back slightly and looked into her eyes as he confessed. "I love you."
Shravan had imagined the ways in which Suman would react to his declaration but he didn't imagine this. She looked at him wide-eyed as if in awe and then her expression became soft as she confessed too. "I love you."
A year into their marriage and Shravan fell in love with his wife and Suman learned to let go of her fears and fell in love with her husband.
That night they both celebrated their love in throes of passion, learning each and every curve and indent of each other's body and becoming one in the true sense, never having enough.
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AH! This one-shot had been in the making since the beginning of December 2018 and after countless changes in the plots and storyline. The relationship abuse was a last-minute addition to the hence changing of the entire storyline at the last minute. This was something different for me and I wanted to focus more on Suman's healing with Shravan.
I hope you loved this absolute fluff piece.
As always Vote and Comment!
This one-shot is based on Taylor Swift's song 'You Are in Love'
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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