Pieces & Holes
He was pacing his music production room on the phone, most of two evenings. He was not snippy or mean but quiet and introspective at dinner
She asked him if there was too much work stress “Something like that” he nodded
“Not enough to go straight to sleep” he taunted as she squealed dodging him trying to leap out of her corner spot on her lounge chair as he picked her up
Whatevr was happening at work he was clearly unwilling o share
She wanted to be part of it, all parts of him, all of him, but some were out of bounds it looked like
She tried to reach out to Naina while at Shahpur Jat or JNU everyday. Diya was accepted at Surathkal both emails/letters went to Rohini, hers from IIT Kharagpur
She was not asked how she spent her day, only her husband and father in law cared enough, Raanav wanted to know after the early morning make out sessions
On days he didn’t have a 9 AM meeting, he hoped to sleep in and “find her in bed” again when he woke at 8 or 9
“It probably seems to you like I cant have enough of you, but I have to go to work” she teased him kissing him on the cheek
“On the contrary Mrs Parashar I feel you avoid me” he teased with his fingers and lips
“To tumhare saath saara din saari raat yaha bed mein rahoon?”
“That sounds so good” he teased kissing her cheek fondly
“How did you get by before you had a wife?” she pulled away and pulled back on to the bed
He didn’t answer that
He was only single for over a year, he didn’t have a live in GF but hooked up with women he was dating
“No don’t answer that” she said when the silence in the room was about to swallow them
She had read “It is harder for men to be celibate” oh heck! It was painful for her as well but no one survey her!!
Naina’s stories exacerbated the longing more
But Abhishek was not willing to… umm.. do it
As if he knew what she was thinking about Raanav’s probing lips went farther and farther down her belly
She arched and groaned
He peeked his head out of the sheet like a puppy and stared into her eyes
“I cant think straight” she whispered in agony
He lowered himself completely on her and covered his lips with his
They both had thoughts and feelings they didn’t want to share or would not share with the other person
They both lived in the NOW
Feelings only muddled things! Feelings reminded both that there was more to this relationship than s--. But s—was so exhilarating!
“I have to come pick you up at work like you do” she teased, closing her eyes and biting her lower lip to hide her pleasure as he tormented her
“Make sure you give me enough notice so I clear my desk” he warned softly moving against her
She imagined being ravished on his desk as he ravished her for real
“Can we meet for coffee or lunch once a week Naina?” Viveka sighed and shook off the dreaminess of the morning and stared back down at her phone
She saw ….. but no response
“Didi Jaipur mein jo lekhak milte hain har saal waha aapki pehchan hai?” Walid one of the craftsmen at the NGO asked curiously
She worked with a team that had not gotten any exposure to big shows or publicized events
They were hungry to make more and be seen more
“Main gayi to hoon aur maine khareeda bhi hai par pata nahi kaise entry hoti hai”
She looked up the website on her laptop
Mr Nahar called later in the day and promised there could be something coming
Satyen was personally involved but just as any large company “connecting an NGO worker to philanthropic opportunities” was not exactly priority number 1
She went to Rohini in the evening and was told by Papa about the rejection
“No matter what I still have Kharagpur” was her mantra, had been her mantra all of this year
And it was all over in one sheet of paper
Papa acted like it was junk mail for a credit card offer
He knew better, he knew Viveka, he knew being married did not shut the door to her career aspirations
“Chalo koi baat nahi” “Just relax, apply next year” he said gently
Viveka rarely cried, but she did that afternoon
In the privacy of her room, her closeness to Naina and her academic ambitions were two things that kept her alive she thought
At this moment both were a bust
“Veev beta Ma was saying you saw Mayank Asthana chatting with Karuna”
“Hmm” she nodded faking a smile as she turned from the balcony
It was an unusually cold December evening
“To aapne bhi dekha” Akash entered and made small talk
“Are they doing a filmi style “Hamey aapki beti chahiye” Viveka smiled gently
Her face and eyes were puffy
Akash was too heartbroken to watch her cry
“Well not yet” “But Bua bata rahi thi ki kal who log dinner par aaye the aur Mayank ne Karuna ko poochha”
“He is sweet and simple” Viveka nodded
“Mere saath baithkar Econ Talk mein Armen Alchian ka podcast interview sunte hain chalo” Akash winked and and acted excited
“We watched it already” she pushed her glasses up and sniffled
She was his darling child, the program meant a lot to her, no podcast was going to fill that void
“Dad had two appointments today I better go check on him at dinner”
“To baat kar lo phone par beta” Akash urged
Anu was not home yet, Dadi was at Bua’s thankfully.
“Achha main noodles banata hoon khakar jao” he ordered
She nodded
Anu was rushing home now, but Viveka would leave before she got home
Education was big at the Mathur house. Anu was as devastated as Viveka, Anu realized Viveka had put it more work in research than she had put in for all of her masters level Engg degree
She texted furiously with Akash he told her she looked OK and enjoyed the noodles, when she got home they discussed animatedly in privacy, privacy that was hard to come by these days with Dadi around
“Naina kidhar hai? At least they could have hung out”
“We have failed as parents Anu I feel in some aspect”
“No Akash” Anu bristled
“We felt Naina deserved to be fired, we didn’t feel so crushed when she was let go. We should have comforted her too”
Anu was quiet
“I am not saying Viveka is undeserving of every ounce of our compassion, but mujhe lagta hai humne Naina ke saath galat kiya hai, when was the last time you asked her where all she was applying?”
“Oh please, I asked her if she applied for that Norway? Sweden? Whatever program, I urge her to apply to small firms and rise thru the ranks since they will be more demanding,”
“Asking and telling her is not enough, she is avoiding us because she feels let down”
“This is not about Naina this is about Viveka”
“AND about Diya’s acceptance” Akash was proud
Anu smiled teary eyed
“She chose her friends, let her come home we will celebrate tomorrow” Akash nodded
“Amma ko mat batana she will be like “Shaadi karwa do warna Anu ki tarah ho jaayegi”
Edited by Nisha0604 - 4 years ago
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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