Mayank opened the main door and led her inside. Everything was changed. Of course it was silly on her part to expect things to remain the same even after three years. This was a much bigger house when compared to the small outhouse in which they stayed, three years back. although small, that was the place where they spent their most intimate and precious moments. They had had so many fights, so many patch ups, so many romantic moments and this house, where she was standing right now, seemed so new, so strange. She was not able to call it as her house. No doubt that there was a huge wedding picture of theirs hanging in the hall, but she wasn't able to connect over here.
"Nupur?" mayank's voice brought her out of her trance. she looked at him. He looked so happy. Finally he had got his nupur back. after three long years of loneliness and pain, he had finally found her. but she did not seem to be the same nupur who used to be three years back. this nupur was quiet, smile was far away from her lips and she was much more reserved and mature. Mayank noticed these changes in her, but did not say anything. He knew that more than the physical scars, it required time for those scars to heal that were inflicted by Dhruv on her mind and soul.
"Chalo, main tumhe hamare kamre mein le jaata hoon" nupur's eyes were devoid of emotions. She found the word "hamara" so strange. It was like since three years she had been cut off from everything that belonged to them. And now he was saying about their room. Nupur shivered. Would she ever be able to overcome this fear. Loneliness had been her companion for three years and now she had to shun her three year old friendship and begin to learn to live in companionship with mayank. she obediently followed mayank to the room, THEIR room.
It was a neat room with white walls, on which nupur's pictures were mounted on. And on the wall, right opposite to the bedroom door was a picture where she had a shocked expression on her face, while mayank was placing a soft peck on her cheek. Those memories flooded her mind but sadly it brought pain on her face. She felt guilty for leaving mayank alone for three years. Mayank noticed her frowning on some thought. Dhruv had caused her enough of pain and he did not want to see her in pain anymore.
It was already quite late and once they had their dinner in silence, nupur and mayank went into their room. Nupur was now nervous. Mayank was her husband, yet some unknown fear crept her mind. However she lied down on the bed, while mayank had gone to the bathroom to freshen up. Once done, mayank was out and he noticed that nupur was already fast asleep. He could see the sadness on her face. He wanted to wipe off all her pain away. He felt so helpless and guilty at the thought that he couldn't protect her when Dhruv was torturing her. nupur, as an ideal wife had fulfilled her promise of standing ahead of mayank before death could approach him. But he could not fulfil his promise of keeping her happy. But he swore to himself that he would bring smiles on her face and would erase all those horrendous memories. He would never ever leave her alone. And he lied down beside her. nupur was backing him. He wanted to hug her and snuggle close to her, telling her how much he missed her, how much he longed to have the love of his life back. but he feared if she would be comfortable. Having all these thoughts in mind, mayank too drifted off to sleep.
The next morning nupur felt a warm caress on her head. Someone was brushing fingers on her forehead and head. She opened her eyes on an impulse and screamed "Dhruv mujhe chod do" and mayank sat up with a start. Nupur looked at a shocked mayank, who only managed to say "Nupur main hoon. I'm sorry" Nupur looked the other way. She felt guilty yet again for taking dhruv's name. Mayank knew that this name was going to come in between then for quite a long time. He got out from bed and went down to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for them, after he had told her to get ready. They had to go to Gunjan's house, where she had invited them over so that she could get some time to spend with her sister.
Nupur came downstairs wearing a white salwar teamed up with a green dupatta. She wore no jewellery, not even her mangalsutra nor sindoor. Mayank noticed her empty forehead and was hurt for a split second, but he could not impose something on her unless she wanted to. But he had to admit that she looked more beautiful and glowing. He just could not take his eyes off her, specially from her wet hair that was neatly placed on one side of her shoulder. She reached the dining table and noticed that mayank had prepared aloo paratha. It used to be her favourite. And remembering the past, tears welled up her eyes. Mayank felt her heart prick when he saw that tears droplet fall down.
"Kya hua nupur?" nupur quickly wiped her tears and nodded her said in a no. "Tumhe kuch aur toh nahi chaiye khane mein?" and yet again she nodded her head in a no. Mayank turned to go to the kitchen to get curds for the paratha, but heard her speak and stopped in his way. Nupur had decided to tell him what she went through.
"Maine teen saalon mein sirf jala hua khana khaya mayank. usne mujhe ek insaan samjha hi nahi. baat baat pe belt se maarna, chillana, cigarette se jalana. Usne mujhe bahut takleef pahunchayi hai mayank. uske liye toh maut ki saza bhi kam pad jaye" and she began to choke on her words as she began to cry and run out of breath. Mayank couldn't bear to see her that way. He swiftly walked to her and pulled her into a tight hug. Nupur held his shirt collar and buried her face in his chest, crying hysterically. Mayank just caressed her back and stroked her hair continuously, till he felt her sobs reducing.
Nupur felt calm in his embrace, but she was not yet used to any soft touches or caresses since three years. She tried to pull out of the hug, but mayank's grip just kept increasing. Mayank had felt her this close after such a long time. Her fragrance was intoxicating to him. She fit perfectly in his arms. He kissed her hair and lowered his neck to kiss the nape of her neck.
"Mayank please" nupur sighed as she requested him to leave her. she was now getting uncomfortable. But mayank's heart and mind urged him to do what he was doing. He kissed her neck and then brushed his lips on her cheek. The flows of emotions were at its highest rate. He increased his grip on her slim waist and proceeded to her lips, despite her asking him to leave her. And on an impulse, she pushed him away. "Mayank please stop, i need time!" she shrieked and Mayank felt disgusted at the way he had just behaved. He had forgotten her condition for a second.
They both had their breakfast in silence, amidst all the confusion and pain in their hearts. Once done, they drove to Gunjan's place in pin drop silence. Neither did nupur speak a word, nor did Mayank. nupur felt bad for not allowing Mayank to get close to her. After all he was her husband and had all the right on her. on the other hand, Mayank was feeling disgusted with himself. He silently swore that he would try to keep away from nupur, until she was comfortable with the proximity.
They reached Gunjan's house and Nupur was happy to meet her sister. Mayank sat talking to Samrat while nupur and gunjan chatted for hours together. Gunjan noticed some tension on their faces whenever their eyes met. "Di, aapke aur jiju ke beech sab thik hai na? jhoot mat boliye di." Nupur looked at Mayank, who was stealing glances at nupur, but looked completely away when he saw nupur looking at him.
Nupur told her the morning's incident, and gunjan listened to her patiently. She hugged her di and said "Main jaanti hoon ke aap pe jo beetha hai, woh aapke alawa koi aur nahi samajhta. Lekin jiju ko ek mauka toh do taki woh tumhe samjhein. Unse baat karke toh dekho di. Im sure jiju aapko samjhenge. Lekin haan, unhone bhi aapko bahut miss kiya di. Maine unhe sirf saans lete huye dekha hai. Woh toh ek zinda laash ban chuke the di. Aap ek baar unke taraf se bhi soch ke dekhein. Baaki toh main jaanti hoon ke aap khud sambhalenge. Magar jab bhi aapko meri zarurat ho, I'm right here okay?" Nupur pondered over gunjan's words for a long time. Gunjan was right. She had to share her feelings with Mayank. she promised herself that she would talk to Mayank once they reached home.
It was quite late in the evening when they left from gunjan's house. On reaching home, Mayank did not say a word. He went to the washroom and freshened up. Soon after he was done, nupur too went to freshen up. When she came out, she saw that Mayank was missing from the room. And so was his pillow and quilt. She crept downstairs to see that Mayank was fast asleep on the sofa. She felt guilty and decided to talk to him the next morning. But the next day, he left for work even before she was up.
Things went on in the same way for a few days. Mayank and nupur were living in two separate worlds in spite of staying under one roof. He did not want to hurt her by being close to her and nupur was unable to express that she was hurt with the distances growing between them.
"Mayank, we need to talk Kya tum thodi dair ke liye kamre mein aa sakte ho?" she asked timidly as Mayank was switching channels on the TV in the hall. Sensing tension in her voice, Mayank immediately followed her to the room. When he reached the room, he saw her seated on the bed, crying bitterly. He walked up to her and sat next to her on the bed. He wanted to hug her, but remembered the time when he previously hugged her and she pushed him away. Not wanting to any further problem, he just sat quietly next to her.
She leaned towards Mayank and rested her head on mayank's shoulder. "i miss you Mayank. mujhe mera pehla wala Mayank chahiye, jo mujhe bina wajah hug karta tha. Mujhe mera kal toh wapis nahi milega, lekin mujhe mera aanewala kal sirf mere Mayank ke sath chahiye." Mayank felt a lumo in his throat when he heard her. not bothering about any more awkwardness, he hugged her tightly,and she hugged him back the same way.
"i am sorry Mayank. mujhse galti ho gayi. Ek toh maine teen saal ke liye tumhe akela chod diya. ooper se uss din maine tumhe khud se door rakha. I am sorry Mayank" and Mayank hushed her. "nahi nupur, galti merit hi, i am sorry. Teen saal ke liye woh darinda tumhe torture karta raha aur main kuch nahi kar paya. I am sorry nupur. very sorry. Aur uss din bhi mujhe samjhna chahiye tha ke tum comfortable nahi ho. i am sorry."
Nupur felt more guilty after listening to him. She broke the hug and looked into his eyes. Cupping his face in her hands, she kissed his forehead and Mayank, took her hand in his and kissed her palm. They leaned their foreheads against each other and sat in the same way for a long time. They kept crying and wiping each other's tears, trying to erase off the pain and sorrows.
After a while, Mayank leaned back and told nupur to wash her face. When she came back from the bathroom, she saw Mayank standing by the window, watching the moon and smiling. She walked quietly and stood next to him. "kya dekh rahe ho Mayank?" and Mayank smiled. With his gaze fixed on the full moon in the sky, he spoke up.
"iss chand ko dekh raha hoon nupur. Pata hai, jab tum nahi thi, toh main hamesha iss chand ko dekhta tha. Tumse baat karni hoti to hiss chand ko dekh kar kehta tha, iss umeed mein ke meri baat tum tak kahin pahun jaaye. Lekin ab jab tum mere saath ho, toh main chand ko thank you keh raha tha. Kyunki usne meri baat tum tak pahunchayi. Usne umse kaha ke tum mere paas wapis aa jao, aur dekho, aaj tum mere saath ho, mere paas ho." and then turning to nupur, he held her shoulders. "mujhe kabhi chod ke mat jaana nupur. nahi toh main marr..." and nupur placed her finger on his lips.
"i love you Mayank" was all that she managed to say and before Mayank could respond, she placed her lips on his. They stayed that way for a long time. It was not a passionate kiss. They just felt each other's presence and conveyed their feeling to each other. They conveyed how much they missed each other for this long.
A while later, nupur pulled back. and when she saw Mayank, she felt shy and went red. Mayank cupped her face in his hands. "kya maine kaha ke tumhari aankhein bahut khoobsurat hai?" nupur stared at his face. And he kissed her eyelids. "kya maine kaha hai ke tumhari naak bahut khoobsurat hai?" nupur smiled shyly. He placed a soft peck on her nose. And then he neared her lips and said in a whispering tone "kya maine kaha hai ke tumhare honth bahut khoobsurat hain?" nupur shut her eyes in anticipation. He gently placed his lips on hers, only to receive an equal response from her.
With each passing moment, the kiss grew more intense and passionate. Nupur pulled back to breathe and Mayank chuckled at her breathless expression. He neared her ears and whispered "aadat daal lo nupur, we'll be having such frequent kisses" and nupur hit his chest playfully.
She looked into his eyes. And cupping his face, she said "i want you Mayank. i need you." and Mayank knew what she meant. He carried her in his arms and proceeded to the bed. THEIR bed. Placing her in the center, he lied down next to her and kissed her deeply. And while they were at it, Mayank slipped the strap of her gown down to her shoulders and kissed her bare shoulders, while she wrapped her hands round his neck and her nails scraped his scalp.
Raising his head, he asked her in a whispering tone, "are you sure you want us to continue?" and nupur's eyes welled up with tears. This was the reason she loved Mayank. he respected her. at this moment, she would have happily dies if he had asked her to, but for him, her opinion was important. She answered his question by kissing his lips. And once she gave her approval, then there was no stop. They kept showering their love on each other, and even the moon who watched them through the window, shied away behind the dark clouds. And soon the rain drops began to patter against the window, as the two of them made love to each other the whole night, thus embedding their souls deep within each other. This was just the beginning of a new chapter of their lives.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
