SS-Life partner,CHAPTER12-PG142DEC.9 - Page 69

Her brain had already captured every minute detail of the ceiling of her bedroom,as she was staring at it since last two hours.After they reached home,no one was up to welcome them except kiran di and aarvi,which had annoyed maan to hell.If clock would not have been showing 2 of the night,Maan might have started a verbal fight with Kiran di.She smiled as she remembered his blabbering in hushed tones and gritted teeth on the way to their bedroom.Maan did not stay longer in the room as he was leaving for Agra at that moment only.His luggage was already in the car. He dropped her bag on the floor and with the thud of the door he stormed out.She was happy initially about getting full bed for herself that night but as her back kissed the bed,her sleep ditched her.She was continuously tossing and turning since then.Moreover,her brain was adamant to think about Maan only.She remembered how she was behaving like a typical wife today with him.She questioned herself when she became so free to hold his hand and ask him for icecream so rightfully.Only male with whom she could take this liberty was her daddy just two days before.She felt certain warmth spreading her insides when she recalled his words about his and Kiran di's relation.She tried to get angry because he did not even speak a word or bid a bye before leaving the room but she could not get angry understanding his annoyed state because of his sister's vigil.She wondered about herself since when she became so understanding and matured.Her reactions towards his words and action seemed alien to her.If such situation had met to Geet three months before,she would have reacted some other way .Her idea of best husband was "who would love her most" and here situation was entirely opposite still she was happy.Maan was bringing out some new Geet from her whom she did not know herself too..May be it was all because her heart was understanding his fear and guilt hidden beneath his words...Fear that his concern and priority for his sister might change after this marriage..Guilt that he was doing injustice with her wife..

Her reverie broke as she saw little light outside the window.Birds were chirping so enthusiastically.She was never up that early before.She discarded the bed and thought of taking an early shower.

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He was leaving behind the highway at a constant speed with a frown on his face.He was again guilty for not bidding a proper bye to his wife.Atleast he could say a sweet "take care" to her but No,he stormed out from the room like a tornedo without giving a back glance.Little light was brightening the skies in dim blue glow.He turn off the AC of the car and slid down the window mirrors. Fresh morning air hit him on the face. In a reflex he closed his eyes for a while. It was soothing him little. His bliss moment was disturbed by a loud ringing of his cell phone

." where do you keep the tooth paste,maan??"

Lines on his forehead vanished as her voice from other side collided with his eardrums. " Is it you,Geet???" he asked with a sweet smile playing on his lips.

"ofcourse its me and I am asking you something..Where is the tooth paste???I am searching it since last 25 minutes. You have more cosmetics than a girl" She said in an annoying tone.

"They are not cosmetics..Geet..they are shaving creams, after shaves and colognes only.."He was offended little.

"But there are so many tubes and bottles..and moreover,you maintain stubble.."

"Actually i like collecting after shaves,geet It is sort of hobby."

"Ok..but you brush your teeth no???where is tooth paste???"

"Its in left cabinet near the sink,not in my shaving accessories.."

"hmm..let me check..don't cut the call.."

He heard her foot steps and click sound of cabinet opening through the cell phone.

"I got it,its there...thank you.."

"My pleasure, By the way why did not you ask yesterday???"

'your poor memory...tch tch tch.."Geet said in a teasing tone.

"what geet???"

"You forgot i used Kiran di's bathroom yesterday.."

"oh yes..."

"Ohk then bye...you better concentrate on driving..Its not good talking while driving.."

"No..no..road is clean,,there is no traffic..we can continue if you want.."

" I have no problem..I am multi tasker..say something till i complete brushing my teeth.."

"umm..I am sorry Geet.."

" oh god.."She said as she spat in the sink."Is it somehow related to your car???"

"What are you saying??"he asked completely clueless.."What are you talking about???"

"Your apology saga maan..whenever you travel by car,you start your "I am sorry" saga..I am fed up now.."She said checking her teeth in mirror.

Her words made him smile as he remembered first two incidents involving his sorry and his car.First one was on their wedding day and other happened just few hours ago."I am sorry for being over apologetic" he said amusingly.

"you are impossible,you know.."Her subtle laughing was now audible to him."By the way,i know very well the reason behind your sorry" She continued.

"Really???then tell me..."He probed her.

"You did not bid proper bye to me last night.."She said with such ease and confidence that it startled him a little.

"How are you so sure???we know each other barely since 4 days.."

"That does not matter maan..tell me if i am wrong..."She challenged.

"Yes you are right"he answered with a strange relief washing his soul.She was not angry or disappointed at all.

"look,how much understanding wife you have got.."She exclaimed in a chirpy voice..

"yes, i am damn lucky.."

"let me take the bath now..catch you later..bye.."

"bye...and..take care.." words came a little late from him.His wife had already disconnected the call..

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He stretched his arms and grabbed his aching spine after a moment.Day was hell tiring and busy for him.Land of Maya aunt's interest was situated in outer skirts of the Agra.Basically it was a rural area. He looked at the clock hanging on the wall of his room painted by some cheap paint,which was ready to leave it very soon.It was 12.30 am.He laid down on his bed with a thud,which made it creak.Its wooden legs were not strong enough to bear such jerks.Thank God it was not broken,otherwise he would have to spend the night on cold floor. His gaze then shifted to small table at the corner.Kettle was present there. His mind and grumbling stomach told him to go and drink some milk but his tired limbs did not obey.He was thinking of getting up to get the kettle when his cell phone buzzed. Name flashing on the screen soothed his tired nerves little...

"Hello hubby.."Geet said in a chirpy voice from other side..

"Hi geet..how are you???"

"Very fine and you???how was your day???

"Not very good geet,It would take more time to settle the deal in our price.."Maan informed.

"Hmm.."..

"How was your day geet??"

"Don't ask maan..I was put in "display" today..

"what do you mean???"

"Munh dikhai" for rest of aunties in neighbourhood..They came to see whether laddu had got a beautiful bride or not???"She told suppressing her laugh.

"Don't call me laddu geet.."He said annoyed..

"Ok fine..I won't call you laddu...you tell me when are you coming back???"She tried to change the topic of conversation as she could save her teasing till he would come back.

"Can't say anything right now geet but i would try to come as soon as possible.."

"hmmm..."

Maan waited for her to continue after "hmm" but no word came from her side except certain sounds.

"You seem busy geet..What are you doing???"

"I am in kitchen,maan.."She whispered.

"What are you doing at this time in kitchen and why are you whispering???"

"Because everyone is sleeping and I am here to take my "refrigerated kheer".."

He could hear her licking the lips as she spoke about kheer.

"Kheer???"he asked in confusion.

"Yes,today maa had cooked kheer in the dinner and I like it "chilled" rather than "hot",so i have kept my bowl of kheer in freezer to enjoy later on.."She explained.Her pitch was back to normal thus telling him that she was back to their bedroom.

"You had your dinner maan??"She asked settling herself on bed to enjoy the kheer.

"I was about to eat.."

"oh wow!!! lets eat together and don't disconnect the call.."

He smiled as he accepted her proposal to have a "call dinner" together..

"Wait"..He said as he collected the kettle from the table and a pack of biscuit from his bag that he had purchased while coming back to lounge."lets start.."He spoke further pouring the milk into glass..To his luck.,milk was lukewarm..

"What are you having for dinner maan???"Geet asked as she heard voices similar to opening some packet.

"Biscuit and milk geet..."He answered dipping the biscuit in milk.

"What???Who takes biscuit and milk for dinner???"She asked in a loud and surprised voice.

"I have no other option geet..It is a quite backward and rural area t and this lounge,where i am staying right now,is the only decent place here to stay.They provide dinner at their small canteen exactly at 8 pm and I was very late to return..so no dinner for me.."

"But you could have find some other restaurant or dhaba???"She said in a voice mixed with worry.

"I told you geet,there is no restaurant and dhaba here.All i could find was small tea stall form where i purchased this milk and biscuits..They don't sell maggie even.."

"Can't you request lounge manager to open the canteen for you???
"No..not at this time..He might be sleeping at this hour..I don't want to disturb him..He had already told me that dinner would be served between 8 to 9 pm only.."He sighed as he grabbed fourth biscuit from the packet."These biscuits are enough for me geet..you enjoy your kheer.."

"Hmm.."she replied with her spoon revolving in kheer bowl.

"Geet,.."

"Hmm???"

"Can i ask you something???"

"No you have to give a written application in prior.."

"What???"

"Nothing,ask whatever you want to ask.."

"You did not feel bad last night when i told you that my sister would be my first priority always???"

"I have no right to feel bad maan.."

"why???"

"because at this moment,after two days of marriage, if i have to choose between my parents and you,i would choose them..When "you" are not my first priority yet then how can i feel bad if i am not yours???

"hmm.."Maan answered as that moment made him realize for the first time that his wife was not "that" what she appears to be..

"lets see if you could be able to become my first priority or not???Then i would decide whether i should feel bad or not..So try hard Mr. Khurana..your time starts now..."

His chirpy wife was back to herself.

He smiled as he took another biscuit from the packet.

Rustle of packet reminded geet that her husband was having biscuit and milk for dinner while she was about to enjoy kheer .It felt bad.

"Ok bye maan..take care.."She disconnected the call as she kept revolving the spoon in kheer bowl for next fifteen minutes but strangely she could not eat it ..She kept the bowl at the side table and dialed maan's number once again.

"hello.."She heard his voice.

"Wake up early otherwise you would miss the breakfast .There would be timings for breakfast too.."She said in one breath and disconnected the call.There was a strange restlessness in her heart..May be she was understanding now why her mother could not relish her favorite cuisine after marriage...

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PS-sorry people..updates would be little irregular till Christmas holidays because of some personal reasons..