What did I do now?? I look at him burrowing my eyebrows and sit on the couch facing him, he turns towards me and smiles.
"Ok? You are freaking me out. Kya bomb phodne wale ho?" I ask impatiently.
"Tume patha hai na tum kitni stupid ho?"
"Yeah, that's a part of my charm!!" I smile.
He rolls his eyes. "Alright, coming to the point. Manvi, I always wanted you to be happy, that was why I was against this marriage from beginning. I know ki girls have a lot of dreams and expectations from their husbands. I knew I couldn't be all those things for you. But, no point talking all that now - you are...married to me now, I mean...I am married to you too...I mean...we both are a married couple."
He was talking those few last words so slowly, stressing each and every word like he was telling it to himself, getting used to the new relations.
"Finally! you figured it all out!" I teased him.
He looks at me and frowns "Mannu, cut it out, this is very serious."
"Achha acha, continue.." I tell him, putting a finger on my lip.
"Now that I am your husband..." he pauses and I eye him curiously "...I want to know what you expect from me. You can tell me and I will try and accommodate those things. This is hard for me, going through all this for the second time, but you don't need to suffer because of all the baggage that I have. I want you to remain happy and I will try to do whatever to keep you that way. So tell me, what are you expecting from this marriage?"
"Do I remind you of Simmi?" I ask him.
My question hits him sorely. He stays silent for a minute. "Yes and no. It is weird - the whole marriage thing does, but not you specifically."
"Ok. I will think about it, make a list and tell you tomorrow morning." I try to change his mood.
"You will make a list?" He raises his eye-brows.
"Yeah. I am very organized." I explain.
He chuckles and shakes his head, but he is amused. "Ok. I will wait then.."
"But, you can do something now."
"Kya?"
I show him my mehendi again, this time I am nervous. I know he got upset the last time but he needs to move on, he cannot just keep getting struck with the past and ignore the future - me. He looks lost, I know this is hard for him, but I have to make an effort.
"Kya huva? Scared to play?" I bait.
"Scared? Play? Hockey hain ya cricket?" he shakes his head and grabs both my hands and starts looking. I am looking at his face, he is so sincere, so caring - inspite of everything, this marriage was forced upon him. He was against it from the very beginning. But now that it is all over, he is prepared to do anything to make me happy? Kyu iske saath itna bura huva, kyu bhagwaan, kyu hameesha acche logon ke band bajathe rehte ho?
"Here it is, you thought chukta sa likhwa loge toh dikhega nahi mujhe?"
"I tried.." I shrug my shoulders. "So, you win, and as a reward, you get? Kya chahiye tume?"
"Chain ki needh, bak-bak bandh karo aur so jao. Subah, mandir jana hai sab ke saaath."
I don't know why but I have this overwhelming need to give him a big hug. "I think you deserve a hug, for everything." I smile sweetly.
"A hug?" he laughs as if I am kidding.
"Haan." I go near him on my knees and put my hands around him. Initially, he is very stiff and I felt like he was going to move away, but he slowly relaxed and patted my back. It was like I hugged my aunt or uncle - very distant, very guarded. But, to my extreme delight, I did hear him smile.
"Thank you, for the hug." He said smiling shyly.
I return him back the same smile. "You can add this to your list, I am a hugger, and on bad days, I would need one or maybe two." I said contemplating if I can find anything off the top of my head, to add to my list.
"He looks at me, trying to read and understand what I was made of, I get this look a lot - from people, in general."
"I am magic!" I tell him, answering his unasked question while getting off the couch.
"More of a maniac!" he retorts back playfully.
"Hey, both of them start with M"
"So does your name! I am sleeping now." He says in a resigned tone but I know he feels so much better than earlier in the night.
"Good night Viratji!" I tease him.
"Can you please stop calling me that." He lays grabbing a pillow and lying down on the couch.
"Whatever you say Viratji!"
"Argh!!!" he hits his head on the pillow and pulls the duvet on his face.
~~~
So, Virat is asleep and I cannot sleep, I take a shower and change into my shorts and tee. I decide I will unpack my clothes and books - have to do that some time - so I go exploring. I open the closet and surprisingly it is full - full of clothes, of Simmi's!! I bang the door shut. I walk into the next room which a study and what do I discover? Her books, her cd's, her freaking stuff neatly arranged everywhere. I am annoyed. Why does he still have all this? And why didn't she take her damn stuff with her, it is not like I still use her hand-me-downs???
I go into the kitchen, make some tea for myself and settle on the bar stool by the counter and start studying - I have an interview with a hospital in the morning, for doing my residency, I am going to be a doctor in an year, like my sister - unfortunately. If I get selected, I will be working in the same hospital she did, that's the only big hospital in the city and I don't really have an option!
I am always compared to her, wherever I go. Mannu, is beautiful but Simmi - is a beauty, just divine. Argh!!!!! Mannu studies well but Simmi is just outstanding, par excellence!! These things never bothered me, I didn't even give them a second thought. But now, they are getting to me, maybe because Virat is still obsessed with her. But, I knew all this, I knew what I was getting into.
No Manvi, you cannot think like that - Virat and Simmi go way back, he cannot just forget all about her so fast. The rational part of my brain argues.
SIMMI DID!!!!! Screams another outraged part of my brain. I drop my head onto my book as all these stray thoughts were driving me crazy.
What am I thinking??? I shake all the nonsense off my head and start studying.
~~~
I wake up in the morning and I find myself on the bed. "Viratji!!" I smile. I climb down and walk into the kitchen where Virat was making coffee. He is wearing a white kurta and looking fresh and clean.
"Yaaay! Caffeine!!" I say sleepily.
"You created such a scene that I was making you sleep alone and then you go sleep on the kitchen counter. Do you even know why you do what you do?"
"Subah, subah class??" I mutter and pour myself a big cup of coffee. "Hey, I moved the sugar to the counter, did you put it back?" I ask him.
"Yeah, I am just used to having it over there in the shelf." He says reading the newspaper.
I look at him and I don't know why but that annoys me, a lot. It's more like Simmi is used to having it over there in the shelf. I wanted to answer him back but decide against it. I have to be careful talking about his obsession.
~~~
"You are very quiet!" he says to me in the car.
"Caffeine hasn't kicked in yet." I tell him.
"You look nice in saree, but your smile is missing. Kya huva? Tensed about your interview?" he asks.
"Wait a second, did the Virat Vadhera just compliment me? That too without me asking? Wow!! This is just wow!! Thank you! You look very 'nice' too." I reply stressing the word nice. His compliment just woke me out of my sulk and my heart was beaming. I was wearing red and golden color saree that my mom bought for me and I suddenly fall in love with my saree. He said I look nice! Haww!
"Okay, don't overdo it." He warns.
Over-doing things is Manvi's trademark! I needed to hug someone, tightly. "Uh-oh, we are late, everyone is waiting for us in the parking lot." He mutters as we enter the parking lot. Everyone was there, mom, dad, Rahul and Priya. Dad and Rahul were standing a little away, buying some flowers.
My mom opens my door and I run into her arms and hug her tightly. "Oho meri pari, kitni acchi dikh rahi ho." she smiles and kisses me. Virat comes and touches her feet, she caresses his face lovingly and I giggle looking at him, not letting go off my mom. I smile at him, he looks so happy, he is always happy when he is around my folks. A really big idea hits me, but I hold off on it for now.
"Mannu!" Priya calls me. I hug her too. I am just too happy. "Ab toh mummi ko chod, Virat ko thoda toh bav de." She pushes me onto Virat and I fall on his chest, Dad and Rahul bhai joined us and everyone is laughing. Virat put his hand around me for balance. "Bhabhi, kya kar rahe ho aap?" he scolds.
"Arey, hadh hai, main kya kar rahi hu? Kar toh apki biwi rahi hai, aap se nazar thak nahi hata rahi hai." She says and everyone splits into another round of laughter. It was only then I realize that I have been staring at him, holding his kurta in my fist and when he looks down at me, I move away flustered. Shit! What was that? My heart was racing and I am suddenly extremely nervous.
"Dekho kaisi sharmaaa rahi hai!" Priya nudges me and I wanted to disappear from there.
"Priya, bas kar." Mom comes to my rescue, I hold her hand tightly. What is happening to me? Why am I suddenly so shy?
"Shukar hai, kuch toh asar huva Virat ka, warna maine socha, yeh bacchi ki bachhi hi rahegi." Mom starts laughing. I wiggle my hand out from her and frown angrily making them laugh some more.
"Mandir chale?" Virat reminds everyone. Thankfully! And my heart is blessing him for turning everyone's attention away from me.
There is a small sign of smile even on his face. What does that mean?
~~~
End of part 3
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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