Maan was about to turn on the lights in his bedroom but then thought of disturbing his wife's sleep at midnight made him walk in the darkness towards the bed.He had informed earlier at home about him getting late tonight due to some official work,however he was done with his work till 10 pm only.It was the restlessness because of the morning "gift incident" which made him spend some more time at office.He had prepared himself for such situation when he had consented for marriage but now facing the "situation" actually had stirred his insides.May be it was because Geet had not reacted the way he had assumed his wife to react.He had prepared himself for "asking forgiveness" but he did not know what to do if his wife did not complain.He had prepared himself for "buying gifts for her in compensation" but he did not know how to react if his wife was happy getting "chocolates" only.He had prepared himself for "disappointment and adjustments" but he was not prepared for "attachment and love"..
He kept the car keys and mobile near the bed lamp as his gaze fell on Geet.Her blanket was thrown on the floor where as her body was curled like a ball due to cold.Maan picked the blanket from the floor and covered her properly.He knew sleep won't come easily for him tonight thats why he decided to have some fresh air as he made his way towards the garden.
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She hated to leave the comfort of her blanket but pressure building in her urinary bladder had already perturbed her sleep.This was one of the times when geet wished for get younger so she could wear "nappies" like aarvi to avoid leaving the comfy bed at night to pee.Geet rubbed her sleepy eyes as she came out of the washroom.Absence of maan in the room made her check the time on the clock.It was showing 2 of the night.Sleep left her system as she walked towards the side table with worried steps to grab her cell phone to call maan.She sighed in relief seeing maan's mobile and car keys on the table.He was home but what was he doing out of the bed at this hour of night???She wondered as she left the room in search of her husband..
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"You had your dinner..??"
Geet's voice startled maan as he turned around to see his wife standing in the "verandah" wrapped properly in "blanket" from head to toe.He wanted to say her to go back to room but for some reason he could not.May be he needed "her" at that moment. He sighed as he gestured his head in "No" to her question.
"Why???"She asked moving towards the garden area.
"I am not hungry.."He answered.
"Want some coffee???"She offered.
"No,,"
"Milk???"
"No..."
"Are you sad???"She asked as she took a closer look at his face under the moonlight.His eyes were sad and troubled.
"Yes.."He could not lie to her.
"Want to share with me???"She asked.She waited for his answer but neither "yes" nor "No" came from his side.
His lack of response made her aware of his dilemma to decide whether he should share with her or not.
"Want a hug???"She asked with a smile.
"Hmm???"He asked, his voice laced with confusion.
"Want a hug???"She said again spreading her arms along with the blanket this time."Believe me "Hugs'" are magical .."She spoke further with her arms still open for him.They were just few steps apart from each other but still she was able to feel his reluctance as he moved towards her.He stopped when he was close enough to feel her breaths on his face.He looked in her eyes which were reflecting warmth like always. That made it impossible for him to resist the temptation of feeling that "warmth" physically.
Next moment,geet felt his cold hands embracing her inside the blanket.His hold was as soft as his breaths which she could feel now on her neck. Geet wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders thus taking both of them in her blanket.They remained in solace of each other's arms for next few minutes till geet heard him saying.."Those bangles were for you geet...!!!"
Maan felt her smiling against his shoulder thus making him pull out of the hug.He gave a quizzical look to her as she held his hand and steered him towards the "swing" in the garden.
"I envy you maan.."She exclaimed settling on the swing.
"Why???"he asked taking a seat beside her.
"You have got a sister who understands you so well..."
"Hmm???"
"Kiran di came to our room this afternoon..She gave those bangles to me saying that you have brought them for me..I asked her how did she know.She said because she was able to read the discomfort and anxiousness in your eyes in the hall today's morning..and moreover you know that her favorite color is "green"..You would have brought "green bangles" for her instead of red.."
"I tried to find "Green" but they were not available in that small shop,geet.."Maan said in anxious voice.."Thats why i have bought a "Crystal Tajmahal" for di...She just love this "momento of love" ..But that was kept separately on the back seat in the car and I completely forgot about it last night..Before i could gift that tajmahal to di,Maya aunty herself assumed that bangles were for "di"..
"Hmm..But look di understood your dilemma all by herself..you have got "best sister" in the world,maan.."
"Not only sister geet..She is my mother and father too...!!!After Papa's death,she was the one who supported and took care of me and maa despite hard protests of her mother in law...!!"Maan exclaimed with pride in his voice but pain in his eyes.
"Is that the reason behind slight aversion for Kiran di from maya aunty's side??? I am sorry but I have felt so..."Geet said apologetically.
"Don't be sorry geet..You are right but reason behind Maya aunty's hatred,dislike or anger is little bigger than this..Everything was going well in my family but with papa's death our lives changed. Business was almost ruined and most of the relatives became vultures to snatch whatever was left.At such crucial time,it was "jija ji" who did not back out from the alliance and married to di in the most simple way possible.There was "nothing left" by the way,which maa could spend on di's marriage.I was sixteen at that time and was continuing my coaching for medical entrances at Kota oblivious to fact that my sister was doing Job at a call center against her mother in law's wish,to support me and maa..Jija ji had no problem with di's working and supporting us but Maya aunty was strictly against it..After 8 months of her marriage,di conceived her first child.She was told to take complete bed rest but she did not listen to doctor and continued her job despite maya aunty's protests.Her carelessness towards her health resulted in "miscarriage"...
"and maya aunty blamed di for it..!!!" Geet exclaimed in a pained voice.
"yes and she still blames her for loosing her first grand child..It was di's fault somewhere but after miscarriage she was in dire need of emotional support and love but all she got were her mother in law's taunts..."Maan spoke in a feeble voice.
"Where was jija ji at that time???"Geet asked.
"Jija ji was posted in Aasam and was not with di...She suffered all alone.."He exclaimed controlling his tears.Painful silence consumed the air for next few minutes.
"What about your "medical coaching",maan???"Geet asked after some time.
"When i did not get my monthly allowance that month,i called maa and she told me everything that she and di had faced after papa's death when i was busy with my studies...I felt like being waken up form deep slumber as I returned home..First thing I did was dropping the idea of "MBBS" and tried to find whatever part time job was available..It was impossible for me to think about "higher education" amidst such financial crises But jija ji once again came back as our saviour..He not only took care and supported di but helped me also to get admission into BBA classes.He bore all my studies expenses till I completed college.I chose "Bussiness management" over "Medicine" because I wanted to rejuvenate my father's business...
" and You did pretty well with your father's business maan..."Geet said taking his hand in hers.
"Yes I did but it took a lot of time to understand and learn the "actual business"..Business does not run with "principals and theories" taught in colleges but "failures and losses" make you learn "how to get profit".I took two years to bring papa's factory to decent condition and earn as much that i could bear my family expenses easily.."He spoke with his gaze fixed on their joined hands.
"I am repeating myself but you are managing everything pretty well at this age,maan!!!.Geet said in a voice full of admiration.
"Thanks geet but all credit goes to "Di and jija ji"..If they have not supported me,all this wouldn't have been possible..No matter how much I do for di and her family,i can't pay off her debt."
"I understand maan.."She said squeezing his hand softly."Can i ask something???"She spoke further..
"Yes..why not.."
"Does maya aunty also torture "di" like telly serial's Mother in laws???"
Her question made maan smile little as he answered,"No she does not torture her physically but yes,"continuous mental torture" is there..She does not leave a chance to remind her about miscarriage.. After that one mistake Di is always apprehensive around her..She never argues with her despite her wrong behaviour..She just over looks her fondness for aarav and ignorance for aaravi.. She don't even tell jijaji about all this..."
"Hmm.."Geet exclaimed with a sigh.
"Geet..Di thinks she lost her first child because of her mistake but don't you feel,mistake was totally mine.."
"How???"Geet asked furrowing her brows.
"I behave completely irresponsible towards family after papa's death..I was busy with studies without thinking from where my mother was getting money for my coaching and other expenses.."He told.
"Common maan..You were sixteen years old kid then.."Geet said emphasizing on word "kid"..
"My naani got married at sixteen,geet.."Maan retorted.
"hmm..then you should have told maa that you wanted to get married when you were sixteen.."Geet said bursting in to laughter,making maan smile with her..
"When was the last time when you got "serious" geet???"He asked as her fits of laughter got died.
"When i was preparing for CDS {Combined Defence Services} examination..."
He heard her answering in a "tone" which he was sure he had never heard from her before..Her face told him that his question had evoked some bad memories for her...
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