Part 62: Half cup empty….
<Maan's monologue>
"You do understand that I have to get to office right?" I asked her hoping she didnt take this as my escape route from the theatrical performance I was expecting that day.
It was a Sunday and given that we have been married a week for now, it could have been a Sunday...the one where you laze around in bed, dont fold the newspaper by the same crisp corners, perhaps even read a book in the toilet for about an hour or two, not bother about trash nor the mails, or the bills and just make plain love to each other when you want to.
No it was not my typical Sunday that I had envisioned and Oh! I now hate amber. Didn't matter anything amber had to go, for the amber colored envelope had changed everything that I believed up until the point it arrived at my doorstep. Well not me so much, than her. To me that piece of paper didn't convey or dissolve what we already shared and she knew that too, but she was now hell bent on finding out if there was a number behind the watermark and if it did change things.
I had a simple solution. Vegas. What better way to breakfree and have some fun at your wedding? Get drunk and hell even have Elvis to get you married in a wretched chapel. To top it all off they even throw you two coffee mugs with lame wedding pictures with a red heart shaped background for free. The offer truly sounded enticing. Jokes apart, even if our marriage was still bona fide, I could now totally use a trip to Vegas, for both office and home were eating away what was left of my hemispheres up in my head.
"Yeah, I know its mid quarter go-live...you should go. I will be fine at home" she said, not lifting her head to look up at me, seated in the couch, while I was scurring to knot my shoes.
"You can come if you want to...I'm only going to monitor progress from emails..." I asked, hoping she would say yes.
I didn't know if it was such a good idea to leave her behind alone and I could have got my job done at home as well, if it was not for the one in-person meeting I had on this desolate sunday.
In a flat tone she voiced to let me know she wanted to stay behind. "No...I should be fine at home...Perhaps I will clean up the apartment downstairs... Not sure" she said, still looking down and with no intentions to see me off. Or so I thought, for now she got off the couch and walked towards me. Her hand came up to lower my left collar that was still pointing upwards convincing me she still acknowledged my presence around her, if not in her life.
"You know the drill, call me if you need anything...bye..." I tendered. As I was about to leave, I came close to kiss her, but for unknown reasons I paused and awkwardly hugged her from the side by her shoulder and walked out. I didn't have it in me to turn and look at what her eyes spoke that moment.
Would have she made an attempt to kiss or hug had I not moved in first? I mused. I doubted for I had lost my temper last night. Oddly I had not regretted it either.
She had cried herself to bed last night, not because she had confirmation that she had deliverance from her past, only literally on paper though, but for the fact that her marriage to me was in question. She hated that those precious moments could mean nothing in the web of time. I had not yet offered any advice to her on how to handle this state of flux. Hanging in mid-air didn't settle with both of us and strangely I was waiting for Monday as well to give us the stability to land on firm ground.
We decided she would call the court office to get us another copy of the same certificate, instead of reaching out to a certain individual who could give us the answer and put all her miseries to rest this very instant, but she was persistent we wait for one more day. What was with Geet and wallowing in self-pity? It was beyond my comprehension. A day or even two was fine, but to taste instability beyond that was not in my temperamental nature. I had decided I would haul her to the nearest court to have her tied to me once again, only for her sake; she needed those damned papers to come near me.
Reaching office I decided to go over the status emails and they were every bit bad news for me. My mood was now bitter and acidic and it only spelt disaster to anyone in my way. It was getting to me now one way or the other. I struggled to put a finger on one thing, but the sorry state of affairs was that it was not just one thing for me to get back and solve. I didn't know if it was the fact that I didnt find her sleeping next to me in the morning, or that I couldnt kiss her as often as I wanted to, or that smile of hers that had disappeared, or the hug before I could leave for office. I just had to accept that she made my life run. No wonder there were inside jokes on angry, grumy men and their tantrums and blues relating to their marital states. Wanting to shun the nipping world and its woes, I shut myself in my room and tried to run my mind blank. I needed to sense my frustration wane before I got to those mails or dialled to check on her. I switched on my iphone and it shuffled to play one of Rafi's songs and quite unexpectedly it soothed me.
<Geet's monologue>
I only felt void around me for those very defining moments of my life seemed to be a mere illusion. How many times Babaji? What are you trying to tell me? I continuously prayed for the watermark to have not erased any number in the first place. 1st February on the paper would seem nice, for it was a good 10 days away from the day I was tied to him forever. My marriage with him was not something I was not ready to bet on a watermark. I needed proof that it was indeed 1st February and not another date. To him it didn't matter, for he was ready to walk out last night to the court and have us married once again. I had no issues saying yes to him amidst a bunch of people, the priest, garlands and all the five elements that bound us, but the fact that I had experienced the same bliss and was now still very much alive to see that nullified?...the very thought numbed me in pain.
Stupid that I was, I regretted not having an attorney walk me through the process. Even at those closing moments, I had simply trusted Dev to have them filed on time. Argh! How insane? I was now deeply disturbed by my brainless act for they were threatening my eternal moments for life.
I needn't worry about what image he held of me. Last night his temper had spoken clearly that he considered me halfwitted and dipshit, perhaps immature in more ways now. Oddly my mind had been obsessed in playing his sentences over and over again and that didn't let me face him this morning as he left for office. I just couldn't.
He had first started off in a neutral tone to begin with the incrimination "I would have never...never overlooked this piece of detail Geet...do you understand?" and then the tempo raised a tad bit for "I hate when you cry do you know that...I just cannot see you cry and the fact that you are crying now...is making me question if I had failed in anyway...tell me have I?"
Every remark of his had a question for which I didn't have an answer at that time. I was silent the whole time, pushing myself to the corner of the couch and braced myself around my bent legs. He was around, but just not close enough to hold me. He was sometimes seated by the other couch or raced the space back and forth in frustration that I was unable to hold my tears that moment. Did he know that the fact he yelled at me actually made me cry more than what I normally would have?
He added to the existing list with his yet another classic and this time he was indeed yelling at the top of his voice "This piece of paper means nothing to me Geet...isske liye rona...is a complete waste...had you instead spent time to think through this and had reached out to me...I probably would have be sitting next to you right now...What is wrong in asking me for help? How does it make you inconsequential in any way?". Having said that he had walked away to retire in the bedroom.
I had stayed back in the living room and had fallen asleep on the couch by nightfall. I wondered if he knew that I had no forethought to keep myself away from him.
My phone rang, as I was lost in time, running through last night's events and his words.
"Haan...Ji boliye..." I answered to his call.
"Have you moved out of the couch or no?" He questioned me and he was indeed right, I had no mood to go down and clean the apartment out.
"Nahin...I'm still here. I think I will do it later...not sure..." I blurted.
"Ok. I will call you later. Actually I should be home in another 2 hours, so I guess I will see you there..." he informed me and cut the call a moment after.
I was never surprised by such short calls. He was just not a phone person and that drove fear into my heart. What was to happen when I moved to SF? Would he even attempt to have longer conversations? We were truly going to give the test of time and I had no qualms about that.
It was not my usual self to turn up the volume as I listened to music but I had to today; to turn deaf to my inner voice. I picked up one of the CD's by the system and surfed to find the one that could perhaps mollify me that moment.
"Yeh raat Yeh Chandini Phir Kahan..." from the movie Jaal played on and it took me to another world. The music was mystical and the voice added magic to the air. Without second thoughts I added repeat to it and went ahead with the mundane tasks of cooking and cleaning.
2.5 hours later...
He must have let himself in for I could see him in the living room opening his bag to get to his laptop. So he was still mad? for I knew he wouldn't be standing there if not for the tiff. Should I start with the conversation? Argh! I always hated when it came to this. I simply walked towards the music system to lower the volume when he gave a shout out from the far end of the living room.
"Nahin rehe ne do..."
I turned to look at him and he was his calm self, a neutral expression on his face which didn't tell me much about his mental makeup, his tone had been normal too for I couldn't catch the lilt.
"Yeh repeat main hain...repeat nikhal doon?" I questioned.
"Koi baat nahin" which once again didn't give me much.
I stood there frozen watching him switch on his laptop, and at the same time, unbutton his shirt to change from his formals. The song in the backgroud only made me lose myself in his sight. Did I have the same effect on him? The song had ended and the room was silent. I could hear a hiccuping sound, it was not I and so I rushed to the kitched to get him a glass of water. He must have followed closely, for he had picked up a bottle in his hand. As I raised the glass to him, he paused for a moment and went ahead to hold the glass by my hand and raised it to his mouth. I still mattered to him ...Vuff...I had to let out that breath of relief.
<Maan's monologue>
Leaving the glass behind in my hands, she went close to the stove. I perched myself on the countertop and observed her. Dressed in a white saree with black block prints and a low cut blouse, she only was half human now. Demi-God? I must have married the daugter of the gods itself. As she served the food on a plate, her hand came around to move the lush black hair to her left shoulder. Her fragile movement now gave me a full view of her back and at that instant I had to turn away for I was being drawn to her fair skin in myseterious ways. The song telling me to live the moment only made it worse as I stayed behind on the island top. I wiggled my head hoping I would break out of the spell she was putting me under.
She moved back swiftly to give me the plate and as she did, I decided to break our silence.
"Tho ab bhi gusse main ho?" I asked.
She turned and her face showed surprise "Nahin tho...aap hi kal raat se gusse main hain" Not knowing what else to ask her, I put forth another useless question.
"Tho tumhara chera itna vukuda hua kyon hain?"
"Maan aapko kya ho gaya hain? Main bilkul teek hoon" she negated me, but I could see she was not normal in any remote way. I had to end it and it had to be now. If it was about last night, no way she was getting an apology from me.
"Geet...Main tumhe kal raat ke liye sorry nahin bol sakta hoon...I still don't feel guilty and for your information, that was every bit negligent of you"
She didnt turn as she kept cleaning the stove and the countertops, but went ahead to respond to my statement. "Ji...maaloom hain...Aur main aapse sorry bhi nahin expect kar rahi hoon"
I needed one more clarification for I was not good at reading ploys and I didnt know if there was one at play.
"Is this the I'm not mad at you outside, but still screaming at you inside treatement? Pray tell me. I dont speak women"
Smiling for the first time since the morning, she turned to respond, "That's actually rude...but still maaf kar diya...I'm not mad inside or outside. It's just me Maan" she ended in a glum tone.
I went on to provide her the solution not begging to differ from the typical male.
"Geet...I know...but the situation is competely salvagable. We can still walk to the court and sign another paper...kyon shaadi tho karegi na mujse?"
I waited for her to respond, as she stood frozen at the stove. Having lost my patience, I got off the coutertop and walked to her. Anxiously turning her to face me, as my hands rested on her shoulders I posed her the same question.
"Mujse phir se shaadi kar ne ke liye itna soch rahi hain?"
I saw a smile pop in by the corner of her lips, but it changed the very moment to show me her fake anger.
"Chaddo ji..." she said and took my hands off of her shoulders "Haan aapse phirse shaadi karne ke liye tho sochna hi padega...ek hafte se dek jo rahi hoon...aapko shaadi karke mera bhavishya main sirf aap aur aapka gussa hi tho dikh raha hain" she raised her hand in thin air and gestured me a thumbs down.
"Mujhe tho Nakul ka behan bana diya aapne.." she dangled the wash cloth infront of my face.
My joy knew no bounds to see her back. I couldn't wait to catch up with her game.
"Maine tumse kaha ye sab kar ne liye? Nakul Kahan hain..." I turned around to call out to him "Nakul....Nakul"
She once again came around to stand infront of me. "Nakul nahin hain ghar pe...Vunke chacha ka beta yahin Long island main rehta hain...vunse milne ke liye ek hafta chuti le ke gaya hain" she responded as she walked to the kitchen sink to wet her wash cloth.
"Shaadi sab naam ke vaaste...aur nahin tho kya...shadi hue ek hafta ho gaya hain...aur ek baar bhi mujhe nahi kilaye, yahan tak kitchen main tho madad bhi nahi kiye, bahar lunch ko jaane ke liye bhi mujhe hi pooch na pada..." Turning by the sink with her hands on her waist, she went on with the bickering.
She was missing something and I had to point out to her."Ah! Ah! vus din khilaya ya tho tha..."
Mad now that she was, the kitchen thundered as she moved the stuff around to clean the countertops
"Vus din ki tho aap baat mat kijiye...main subhe se bookhi thi, tab aa ke aa mujhe kilaye...aur voh bhi shaadi ka agla din aap mere baath sune bina chale gaye..."
Her tone in contrast with the melody that played on the system moved me towards her. She was my own Misthi and I inched closer to hug her from behind, when she realized my proximity and turned to face me.
"Paas math aiye mera...ab main dikhaiye de rahi hoon?...nahi tho sirf apna laptop ko bita ke rak the hain godh main...aaj bhi aate hi vuse choona tha?..." she was burning with jeaslousy.
Pulling away the washcloth away from her hand, I took her by the wrists and locked it behind her to pull her closer.
<Geet's monologoe>
His breath warmed my cheeks and I was melting. My eyes closed tight and my face turned away as I expected a kiss from him. And I waited. Half a second turned ten, when I tried to level my face with him, or so I thought, for now he was a few feet away from me, arms folded, expecting me to turn any instant.
"Maan" I yelled at him raising my hands to whack him, with a fake cry on my face.
He held them in time and pinned me against the refrigerator and with his classic smirk went on to pacify me.
"Kyon...kya expect kar rahi thi..."
"Chaddo ji...main aap se baat nahi karti...chodiye mujhe...tang karna tho koi aapse sikhe" I requested; only to have his hold around my wrists grow tighter.
"Kyon...tumhe to achha lagta hain na...jab main…Tumhe aisa tang karta hoon tho?" his smirk grew into a wide smile.
And that couldn't stop the smile on my face. Haan achha lagta hain Maan...but now he needed some schooling and so I let go of his hold and walked to the living room to arrange the pillows and the throws that I had moved around during the day.
"Mera sawal ka jawab nahi di ab tak...jab haath kaske...I mean you know right?" He asked me once again.
"Nahin...jab aap mere saath waqt nahi bitaye aise karte hain tho bilkul nahi..." I bellowed.
"Waqt...I was there with you the entire week...shaadi hue ek hafta bhi hua hain, aur itne saare complaints?"
He walked to come close to the couch and sat himself down while he pulled me to sit on his lap.
"Aapka complaint box haazir hain maam" he said as his hands cuddled me into him.
Having missed him the entire day and being the emotional self I was, I wanted to hold him and cry out badly, but I did not have the heart to affect his cheerful mood either. I went ahead with just what he wanted to hear.
"Complaints tho bahuth hain...pehle mere baare main kabhi nahin soch the hain...Mansion me itna sharminda ho gayi thi vus din, ki main bol bhi nahin sakti...mujhe closet main jaake chup na pada, aur aap ek ho, jo peeche peeche aagye..."
He hummed..."Hmmm...Aur..."
"Hmmm aur...haan..." I stuttered as my hand traced his half bare chest, unbuttoned to give me a view of the comforts I had missed since the morning.
"If you are done admiring me...we can continue..." He got back at my lost self.
"Haan...Haan...mera khayal tho bilkul nahin rakte, mujhe tareef nahin karte, jab main sirf aap ke liye roz saadi pehti hoon…aur kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hain ki main aapke liye special bhi nahi hoon...jab chahe kuch na kuch kareed ke leke aa jate...kuch khud bhi tho aapne haaton se banake de sakte hain...vutna time tho mere liye nikhal sakte na?"
My list went on.
"Sirf ghar aur office nahin...bahar ka ek duniya bhi hain dek ne ke liye NY main...Mujhe aake pooch na pada ghoom ne ke liye kal, nahin tho woh bhi nahin karte"
He heard me with a smile on his face, never sulking as I sat there carping about him.
There was a loud knock at the door as he was about to explain himself, atleast that is what I felt he was about to do.
I got up and straightened my saree to get to it. Meer and Yash stormed in as I got the door and I turned to see Maan button up his shirt in one swift moment.
"I'm never...never going back to this apartment...Yash…tum apna saaman leke bahar jao..." she screamed with her index finger pointed at him.
"Meer...kya hua...hosh main tho ho...Its a big statement..." I came close to shook her up as I warned her.
Maan came to stand opposite me and Yash and Meer faced each other. It seemed to me as the gathering of dames and knights from our very own apartment complex.
"Nahin...main soch samaj kar hi keha rahi hoon...tum jaante ho isne kya kiya...First of all I asked him not to smoke...he said he gave it up...and then today I saw him take a crone's joint and puff it off, woh bhi right in front of our apartment...kisi ka joota bit...chi chi...chi"
I smirked and Maan was embarassed as his Mono episode came to our mind.
"Meer lagta hain yeh bhimari is apartment ke saare mard ko hua hain...kuch aur naya hain tho bol" I explained.
"Arey Geet...dekho main bhi try kar raha hoon...dekho yeh nicotine ka patch...ek baar slip ho gaya tho...maaf bhi tho kar sakti hain...you know what I'm tired too" Yash spoke to Meer. Now frustrated he started moving towards the couch.
"Yeah I think its a good idea...mujhe mera freedom tho milega...I will leave...tumhari emotional drama se tang aa chuka hoon mai..." Yash ended to sit down on the couch with his arms folded. Maan turned and smirked to tell me he agreed as he moved to sit on the other end of the couch.
"I agree main bhi is emotional drama se tang aa chuka hoon...Dude we so need a bachelor pad...hamesha complaints"
Ab ye kyon gang form kar rahe hain? I went and held on to Meer as she fumed and walked to Yash's side.
"Emotional drama...tumhe mere saath rehne main itna problem hain...main batati hoon...wait..." she spoke to him directly as her teeth grounded against the other in anger. She went for the pillows and threw one at a time as she opened up her list of complaints about him.
"Ek...I don't like to be fed, main apna khana khud kaa sakti hoon...Doosra, NY main saare log road pe kiss karte hain tumhara problem kya hain, aur ghar main...kabhi, ek din bhi mera peecha kiya hain...kitna boring...theesra hamesha kuch na kuch silly gift laake dete hain, some stupid letter, or some origamy..." Meer stopped for a moment to pull her hair back and waited for Yash to move back to the seated position as he had crouched to hide from the flying pillows.
"Seriously origamy...kuch kareed ke bhi tho de sakta hain..itna kanjoos bhi koi ho sakta hain...aur woh bhi shaadi se pehle" Meer wheezed and settled on the chair close by and I moved in to sit by the arm rest, unable to brush off the contrast in her wants and mine.
As I looked at Maan, his left brow raised to call my attention to the strangeness of the situation.
"Tumhara eh sab sahke main tumhara saath hoon...toh tum mera emotional drama nahin sahe sakte" Meer questioned Yash as he stared into the view of Manhattan from the couch.
"First of all ask how many people feed their girl friends...aur to your second...Main paas aata hoon, tho you say...No please leave me alone..." Yash imitated Meer as he continued to respond "Hell I can only take a NO as a NO...aur teesra...why don't you look at the time I spend to make those gifts...how long do you think it will take for me to get out and buy you something..." Yash ended his note in a frustrating tone.
"Agar dil kol ke baat kar ti...mujhe batati ki tumhe kya chaiye, toh main sab teek tarah se kar sakta hoon…else I'm not a trained mind reader Meera" Yash yelled as he came half way off the couch and leaned to show his irritation.
"Tumhe ab tho sab kuch pata hona chaiye...I can't ask for everything in my heart. If I do...don't expect me to accept it…if you do it for me after I have asked for it"
Meer spoke the so-called cliche that every women had atleast uttered once in their lieftime.
Maan interrupted. "Guys time out. Take a breather...Yeh lo..." He threw a pillow at Yash.
"Only the one with the pillow talks and the other listens...no interruptions"
He smiled and continued. "Its clear you guys need to talk...and excuse me"
Calling out to both of them once again with a smirk "Dont think you can escape...you are not leaving until I say its finished"
Maan went on to switch off the music system behind, picked up his laptop and moved on to the bedroom.
Unable to decipher my role in this, I walked to the kitchen to pick up his plate I had offered him earlier and moved into the same room he was in.
Seated at the window with his laptop, typing away, he had to pull his head back as I moved the plate into his line of sight.
"Khana kaa lijiye...muj pe gussa ho tho is pe mat nikhaliye" I said as I had half turned away not to face him.
He took the plate from my hands and placed the laptop down simultaneously and pulled me to seat me close to him. The song that played in the living room now started on his laptop.
Feeding me a mouthful first, he went on to take a bite.
"So yet again Physics in the living room gets proved...opposites Huh!" He remarked.
"I know...opposites do attract...and that is probably why I ended up with you..." I continued to conclude on that note and we laughed at that.
"Tho tumhari list main aur kuch baaki hain...yaa" as he enquired, I cut him off.
"Nahin Maan...I'm sorry...I guess everyone have their unique way to express...I don't think I can complain anymore..."
I looked up to meet his eyes and my statement took him back. His hand paused in mid air before he could bring the second mouthful to me. Moments later, he went on to finish the interrupted task.
"I guess it's the same half cup full, half cup empty situation. I didnt see what I was getting...only what I was missing...I have no right to complain" I finished with an embarrased smile.
"Good keep it up...you are learning" he added and went on to feed me.
"Achha...So what did you learn?" I was curious.
He stuttered in a funny way "Haan...Mujhe...mujhe kuch seek ne ke liye koi zaroorat nahin na...tum ab half cup full dekne jo shuro kar diya..." and waited for me to get back at him.
I had to..."Jab main Half cup full ko dek rahi hoon...tho aapka farz banta hain…ki vus half cup empty to bhi fill karen...samje na aap..."
"Baatein toh achi tarah se kar le ti hain…" he smirked and went on with a pun in his tone "Tabhi toh kila raha hoon...tumhara cup jo mujhe fill karna hain..."
Moving in closer, I went on to hug him and he struggled to complete the hug now that the plate was in his hand.
"Aur kal raat ke gussa ke liye...I'm sorry...but I'm not sorry about everything...just the tone" he said in a glum voice and I moved away to face him now.
"I just couldn't see you cry...Crying is not the solution Geet" He turned away with a pained look.
"I know those moments mean so much to you as well...I'm sorry sach main...I was too naive and it was too big a mistake" I tried to convince him.
"I'm emotional Maan...It will be nice if you can accept me that way" I requested.
"No...I'm not asking you to change...but think...its been just 8 days since our marriage and there has just been too many things that had gone awry for me to handle" he sounded frustrated and I couldn't blame him for that.
"I just want this time to be perfect...I'm trying my best...but I'm losing it...It doesnt matter what that paper tells you"
He looked deep into my eyes, calling my attention.
"You can't change if it was indeed filed after 10th...but you are losing out on the time with me...and that I hate..."
He sounded too practical and I was surprised to hear the sentence that followed.
"Not that the marriage doesn't mean anything to me...It does...but I have dreamt too much about this time with you...to waste it on anything...I just want you...no tag alongs..."
Understanding his need, I inched in to assure him that I would try, but he spoke again and I paused to hear him out.
"Yeh gaana...Do you understand when he sings..." He spoke the lyrics that were playing along.
Tere khayaalon mein khoyi khoyi chaandni
Aur thodi der mein thak ke laut jaayegi
Raat yeh bahar ki phir kabhi na aayegi
Do ek pal aur hai yeh samaa, sun ja dil ki daastaan
"It's too much to let go without regret...and I don't like to regret later...I rather have it fixed now" He pleaded.
With remorse I spoke to pacify him.
"Maan...I will try and talk, instead of crying...I'm sorry...I will make up for this" He didn't respond, but his eyes acknowledged my apology.
Looking outside, he went on to take a bite from the plate, when I stopped him to feed him in return, but before he could eat off my hands, we heard screams from the living room.
I rushed to the door and he closely followed. Standing there by the kitchen hallway, we wondered if it was even appropriate for us to interfere, for the topic they were discussing seemed personal.
"Aap ko kya lagta hain...hume kuch kehna chaiye" I turned to look at him.
"I know exactly what they need to do..." he spoke with certainity "But I can't tell them...."
With a puzzled look I raised my eyebrows to question him back, but he was too quick to have pulled me inside our room and remarked in haste to clear my confusion. "But I can show you..."
I couldn't resist his hold as his hands ran by my bare waist to pull me closer and kiss me on my lips.
I struggled to call out his name "Maan...Ghar...main..."
Unable to give up, I tried once again, only to fail as he crushed my lips and his passion commanded my hands to move up to tangle my fingers in his hair.
As we walked towards the bed locked in each other's arms, expressing our need for each other with a kiss, I heard Meer's cry.
He let go of me with a sigh..."Ek yeh phone beech main baj ta hain, yaa Daadima, nahin tho ab meera...yah tho khud tum beech main aa ja ti ho..." He now sounded irked.
"Lagta hain...saara kainaat laga hua mere khilaaf is saazish main…" vexed at the intrusions we faced, he went on to sit by the bed and I moved out with a smile to get to Meer.
"Ok...people...Yash...tum jao ab, Meer yahin pe ruk rahi hain aaj raat ko" I spoke to him as I took Meer by my arms and she leaned on my shoulders.
Maan stood behind me and called out to Yash. "Yash...do you need a drink...there is a good Irish one by the corner of 6th and 33rd…I think its STOUT"
I turned to eye him for that was the first time I heard him actually ask someone to go out for drinks. I wondered what was in store for me if it was to actually happen that night.
"I don't mind MK. Chalte hain..." Yash accepted the offer.
He went to grab his coat as I walked Meer to our guest room. She seemed emotionally beaten up and crashed on the bed the moment she was there.
Maan called out to me from the hallway. I left the room to join him there.
"Ho sakta hain vapas aane main der ho jaye ga...Tum kaake so javo...I think you will be with Meera right..."
He held me by my chin...to face him.
"Just company...I'm not drinking...he needs to chill...You don't have to worry samji..." He assured me and I nodded to acknowledge the same.
"Aur...Good night..."
He came close to give me a peck on my lips.
" Good night...call me if you miss me..." I chirped.
"Oh! That's not going to happen my wife...there will be too many good looking girls there...and they won't think twice to marry me…unlike you..." He added to my jealousy and I fisted to give away a fake cry.
He turned with a smile and walked away.
I went inside to sit with Meera and helped her to a glass of water. She drank and went to bed immediately, only after she apologized for barging in.
Afterall what were friends for? I was more than glad of be assistance now.
20 mts later...
My cellphone beeped now as a text came in. It was from him.
"Tho kya bolti hain...aab bhi soch rahi hain shaadi karne ke liye"
I texted back."Ji Haan...if everyone declines you at the pub...tab dekte hain..."
2 mts late her he once again wrote back..."Too bad…the blond here says YES...she is hot too…"
"Tho ghar ka raasta bhool jaiye...Mishti tho chali...Meer ke saath I'm moving back"
I giggled at our conversation track.
"Dont forget its one floor down...Yash still wants to stay back...you are better off with me and the blond in between Haha"
I needed all the humor I can get at that moment. Heavy as it was my heart was still stinking, stuck to the same moment, I had laid eyes on the sheet of paper last night. I tried as he had asked me to move on, but it was too disturbing a sight to let go, but I had to wear a mask for me to coexist with him, in here and at office too. Two days to go, I wanted us to have a memorable time at office, but how?
I was past the fact that I needed a paper to get me close to him, but my phere came back to haunt me time and again. It was too holy for me to lose that moment.
The darkness was closing in on me and I needed him badly as I stared into the wild night. Standing beside the window, I waited for dawn to bring in good tidings for me. Given all that questioned my marriage to him, I was still learning and we were still moving forward. His warmth and passion didn't change but only grew to comfort me in his immutable love.
My phone jumped to let me know of the message that was waiting for me. I picked up to read the same.
"So...second time you are going to sleep away from me...I give up...I miss you already"
Knowingly or unknowingly he was bringing us closer everytime my phone chimed. His messages were piling to highlight his desperation and that didn't fail to put a smile on my face in those dark hours.
Half cup empty...Half cup full...This cup needed filling and he was doing all he could.
A long one...after quite a break...Hope you like and do let me know with the like button. Please post and comment. This thread will soon be closed too...so lets party...
Edited by 6thElement - 14 years ago
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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