I’m here again(before y’all get sick of me)….thank you all for your wonderful feedback on my last story(ies).
I have a bunch of non stop nonsense in my drafts that are on Priya and Ram and thought will post one to fill the gap of the weekend, and it’s led to posting two.
This is more of a fluff piece and a popular trope in fan fiction. I find it hilarious that Priya addresses Ram as Mr. Kapoor! On the show the only time she’s addressed him as Ram (that I’ve picked up on) is when he’s distressed. The first was when he faints and she implored ‘Ram’ to utho and the second is when he hugs her with abandon and it scares her (let me know if there’s any more instances I’ve missed)
I don’t think either of the times she’s realised she’s addressed him as Ram…hence this is in theory a -> four times she doesn’t realise and the one time she does. A gradual progression from the formality that exists in this relationship
I’ve written four of the five and just mucking about the 5th one (sadly it’s the connector between two parts) so will post gradually over the two days. But for starters here’s the first two. They are all Drabble-esque (bit longer). I’ve taken creative liberties with their likes and dislikes.
Feedback is oxygen. Going to reply to your lovely comments on my other post. Merci! Happy Saturday
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Part 1
The day began like every other however they bickered about breakfast, they bickered about what he wore and they bickered on the way to work. He knew deep down he was picking fights as they had to visit Maitreyi today and the prospect of even seeing Neeraj brought out the worst in him. He had plotted multiple times to see if he could move Neeraj’s workplace to another city but always stopped because of Meera Ma. She didn’t deserve to be separated from her daughter.
However he still had every right to show his displeasure to his wife and he was really annoyed that she wasn’t picking up on the cues. She sent him a very healthy lunch but it irked him that she didn’t feel fit to come join him for the meal.
As the end of the day neared, he wrapped up his work so he could get the next few hours done with and wiped out of his memory.
She was waiting for him in the lobby, texting someone. His annoyance peaked again that she couldn’t bother to text him, telling him she was waiting. He went up to her and deliberately picked an argument. As the volley of words continued, she said
“Ram, main jaanti hoon aap Neeraj aur uske gel baalon ko pasand nahi karte hai. But aap please usko itna importance mat deejiye. He’s thrives on that emotion so please don’t give him that satisfaction”
He stopped short. She had never called him Ram…the smile that brought to his face was far beyond the discomfort he felt with Neeraj
“Mr. Kapoor, kya bewakoofon jaise khud hass rahe hain? Chale kya?”
She was back to Mr. Kapoor but he had already marked the date on his phone to remind him forever. A memory he treasured and she was unaware of.
End of Part 1
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Part 2
“Mr. Kapoor, aap kya kar rahe hain? Tarun electricity board ko control NAHI karta. There is a storm raging outside and they have shut off power to ensure there are no fires or casualties. It’s fairly standard practice. Tarun ne generators on kar diye hai, but they are only for the living area, not the entire house. Now will you please let the man go, and decide where you want to sit? I’m off to our room. Mujhe andhere se darr nahi lagta”
He stared in disbelief as his wife left him downstairs and went up to their room. He quietly followed her and saw her sitting on their massive terrace, just staring at the inky dark skies. Bombay during the monsoon was a beauty (acc to him), but Bombay in an October storm, shrouded in pitch black darkness interspersed by bright lightning was (he had to admit it)…magical.
He forgot why he was fussing about no power a few moments ago, if this is what they were going to experience.
“Candles jala doon?” He asked her.
She made a tch sound in response which he knew was a negative. For some reason, his rain hating wife, was content sitting in this dark moody night, looking out to the sea.
He sat opposite her and taking a cue from her, resigned himself to looking at nothing really. The lightning in between outlining the massive Sea Link structure before plunging everything back into darkness.
Probably an hour passed in silence, with no words uttered by either of them…but it was the first hour in weeks where Ram had found the opportunity to unwind completely. He felt all his stress, his worries leave his mind and body and the only thing he focussed on was the sound of nature around him. Their silence compensating for the loudness of the storm.
He stole a glance to his left, she was sitting with her legs on the couch, her arms around the knees, her hair undone and he saw the same sense of peace he felt, on her face as well. Had he ever seen her looking this serene?
“Aap ne ek din poocha tha ki mera favourite gaana kaunsa hai?” She stated out of no where.
“yaad hai mujhe, ae zindagi gale laga le. Wadkar sahib, genius extraordinaire”
“Woh actually, woh gaana mujhe pasand hai, kyunki maa ko pasand hai..par mera favourite nahi…”
“Arre wah, so you admit that you do like music. Main aurangzeb se bhi pooch loon, kahin iss mausam main uska bhi mann na badal gaya ho?”
“Ram…if you are not serious about this, I won’t tell you” she whined exasperatedly
“Acha baba sorry, batao…tumhara favourite kaunsa hai?”
“Banwaraa Mann dekhne chala ek Sapna…”
“Yeh kaunsa gaana hai, maine kabhi nahi suna hai”
“It’s from Hazaaron Khwaishein aise. All my life I’ve never felt that I could have dreams, hopes desires….this song at times used to be my escape into fantasy, what I indulged in….before coming back to reality. But lately I’ve felt that maybe, just maybe I could have the liberty….to have some dreams too”
Ram was stunned by what she had said but also left unsaid. She had gone back to her previous pose of staring into nothingness and he knew she wouldn’t divulge more…not today.
He pulled up Spotify to look for the song she was talking about. As the deep, rich baritone of Swanand Kirkire filled the space around them…he soaked in the lyrics, willing himself to also dream just a little bit.
End of part 2
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If you haven’t heard the song I’m talking about, please do go listen to it. It’s perfect for these two, who live for others and do nothing for themselves.
Note
Parts 1 and 2 - Page 1
Part 3 - Page 2
Part 4 - Page 5 Part 5 - Page 6
Cricket
Marathi TV
