OS Amarprem Chapter 61

'ur wife, pratigya is such a nice girl... arjun never let anyone touch him other than his parents or grandparents , but she is certainly an exception ...' laughed sharada good naturedly ... krishna nodded at her , his eyes darting to the kid n then to pratigya ... 'ouch'... pratigya jumped , her hand holding her hair as the child pulled at it, giggling away in mirth n krishna's eyes locked on to the cute sight , feeling his heart beat soar...' ohoh...bad arjun... get off aunty's hair !' remya chided the kid lovingly as pratigya smiled at the kid , caressing his cheek... krishna looked at her eyes n felt his heart brim in happiness as he saw the same reflected there... 'uff oh!' remya prised off the kid's hand from pratigya's hair n made to walk towards sharada who indicated to give the kid to her... but the child had other intensions as he started bawling , holding his hands out against pratigya ...'really? liked the aunty too much now!!!' remya laughed n gave the child to pratigya who smilingly held the child in her hands , brushing her nose with the kid's as the child stopped crying n giggled ... every body was smiling n looking at pratigya n the child... 'oh god! I think he will become an actor ! exclaimed remya n all laughed , except krishna, who was busy staring at pratigya ... pratigya laughed n caught his stare , n blushed , not knowing why...

' Sir, the food is ready to be served'... a servant came to the hall n announced n avinash made to stand up thumping gently on krishna's shoulder , jerking him out of pratigya n the kid...'so I guess we will have lunch first n then will relax a bit...' smiled dilip at krishna ... krishna nodded absently , unable to keep his eyes off her n the kid... memories came rushing in n he found that he didn't want to fight them off...not now!... he walked forward towards the dining hall, his mind full of images of running all along the vast grounds as his mother ran behind him, exasperatingly calling him to eat food... pratigya could feel his eyes constant over her n she found that she was feeling even more happier than just bec of the kid alone... she gazed at him through her lashes as she sat down after giving the kid back to remya again opposite him along the table n had to fight hard to suppress a gasp... she now knew the emotion in his eyes ...! it was one of fierce ...fierce longing!... she knew that very well... she used to have it when she watched her friends laughing n swinging in the arms of their fathers...now she was too much past the stage to even think about it... she blinked , a sudden feeling of empathy washing over her... he must be thinking about his mother! ... how very similar they r! Their childhoods, life ! had a large , similar , void ... which could never be filled ...ever!... she felt his eyes leave her as sharada started serving them food n krishna looked down at the table , eyeing the items casually , just to divert himself from the mad rush of memories ... n her!...oh! he had thought that she looked beautiful , but never...never ever she looked so beautiful...! the smile in her eyes was infectious !...

his eyes caught the bowl of kheer one servant just placed over the table n memories came tumbling down ...n this time they were painful ... even as he fought to keep them at bay, his hand had automatically extended towards the kheer before he caught himself ... but the damage was done ... remya n pratigya had noticed this gesture ... 'oh! U didn't tell me that thakur sahib eats kheer before roti' giggled remya at pratigya n pratigya who was smiling innocently at krishna, blushed , the table ringing with laughter , krishna finding his cheeks burning in embarrassment ... 'I ...I would like to eat kheer only... if u don't mind!' said krishna , looking up at sharada ...pratigya looked at him in surprise ...he likes kheer... she too... what? What r u thinking ? no!...'oh no thakur sahib , u must eat the roti n daal n then the kheer... pls don't disappoint us ...we get that u like the kheer very much but pls don't let our feeble attempts to impress u with UP food go waste ...pls...' said sharada politely ...their eyes met automatically , so naturally as the air filling the space... both didn't know why they did it, but he looked up at pratigya feeling like asking her if he should wait for the kheer as she nodded at him, smiling at his eagerness n finding him cute ... both looked away immediately , feeling strange ...

krishna fumed inside, staring at the roti... what the hell is he doing? He felt like asking her whether he should wait till he eats roti...?! that's downright ridiculous!!! ... n she nodded in consent n he just accepted it...! what the hell is happening to him? Since when did he started asking suggestions to others? N worst he just accepted it, like a fool!! ... she is affecting u in dangerous , really dangerous ways KST! Stay away from her!...wait! how did she know that he was going to behave like a stupid idiot n just happen to nod at him , looking at him n smiling... ! ... he forced down the first piece of roti , stealing a glance at her n found her as agitated as himself... pratigya was fighting the urge to run from there...anywhere ! away from him! She couldn't believe what just happened !... how the hell did she knew that he would look at her , ask her without words what he should do with the kheer n she just nodded at him , smiling like a fool on top of it...! what is happening to her? ...the man threatened to kill u mere hours ago n u r busy seeing to it that he gets his fav kheer!!!... but...but...why did he look at her in the first place? Why did he ask her , with his eyes , about what he should do?... why is he playing all kinds of weird games with her? ...one moment he is after her body, next moment he is all concerned about her ankle n whether she had eaten n the next moment he tries to strangle her n threaten to kill her off n now!!! Heights of insanity!! He is asking ur opinion on what to do with his greed to eat kheer!!! ...

they ignored each other all through the course of lunch n hummed n talked appropriately to the general chat on business n evening party... pratigya learned that some of the country's richest were attending the party along with top politicians n even foreigners... she looked around the table , wondering if anyone knew who he is for real ... she avoided looking at him even as they went n sat in the hall , sharada giving a sizable bowl of kheer to krishna, smiling affectionately ...pratigya watched as krishna started eating the kheer , his face full of clamness...' ur mother would be a busy woman then, always preparing kheer for u ... how is she , btw, if u don't mind... heard that she doesn't travel much , even outside ur haveli...' krishna looked up, his jaw clenching as he paused in his act of eating the kheer , his mind so full of sumitra already... pain threatened to engulf him even as pratigya gazed at him in sadness n she thought he would just walk off , his eyes slits ... but everybody was distracted as arjun took baby steps towards krishna , pining for the kheer ... pratigya looked around n was relieved oddly to realise that no one saw the emotion which crossed his eyes ... it wasn't anger...it wasn't pain either... it was a perfect mix of the two ...

pratigya felt the tension building up inside her easing as arjun walked to a shocked krishna n smacked his little fists over his thigh , saying 'eer...' , his other hand trying to grab the bowl... everybody laughed except krishna who looked taken aback, his hand automatically withdrawing away from the child, keeping the bowl out of reach, looking at the child strangely... 'oh! Looks like a small tussle is on our way...' laughed Dilip looking at krishna n laughing harder ... pratigya stared at krishna in surprise n disbelief...he looked nothing short of cute... avinash n remya were also looking at krishna s if they were seeing a different man... krishna gazed at the child his thoughts running back to his haveli were he n chandu used to compete with each other who will reach the dining hall first to eat the kheer when they were small... he could vividly see his mother waiting with 2 bowls in her hands , smiling up at them... he blinked ... the child was now trying to climb him up , smiling up at him innocently ... krishna gazed at the child, a slow smile cracking his lips , his eyes softening ... he lowered the bowl n dipped the spoon inside it , n offered a small amount to the child , hoping he will be left alone to enjoy the kheer , atfirst ... but the kid would have none of it as he opened his mouth for more n all smiled ... pratigya stared at krishna , feeling strange ... he could feel her lips stretched in a smile n tried to close them , even as she could feel her heart brimming in happiness ... why r u feeling happy? I don't know... !

krishna looked up at pratigya , sensing her gaze over him n found that he liked the silly smile on her lips n eyes ... he gazed at the child again n found that he was actually starting to like the kid too... he smiled boyishly n took a liberal amount of kheer n offered to the child n watched in fascination how the kid lapped at it... pratigya continued to gaze at krishna , too lost in the image of him n the child... the thought came swiftly to her that he was human , after all... she jolted... it was the first time since she met him that she found him anything remotely close to human!!...she had seen his anger n pain...but this was completely different !!!... she could feel the world around her shrinking to the image in front of her ... she could hear remya's voice as though from some other world...'look at him, maaji ...! dramebaaz! n i though he won't eat until he seems me... ! looks like he is growing font of u , krishna ji!' ... Krishna looked up , his smile intact as he put the bowl away n lifted the kid to his lap...he felt strange ...it was the first time he had been so close to a kid, let alone holding one in his lap... the child gazed up at him , his eyes wide in wonder as he tried to pull at his balzer , giggling...

'there! I won't have time later ... now that arjun is effectively distracted , I guess we could go for a quick touch up, what say?' remya laughed as she said to pratigya... pratigya was staring at the way he was holding the child in the lap ... 'hello, thakurain, I am talking to u...' giggled remya n pratigya blushed embarrassedly 'sorry, what did u say?' she asked , smiling at remya... avinash went n sat next to Krishna , tickling arjun as remya repeated her request ... pratigya had looked up at Krishna even before she knew it , her eyes asking him silently what she should do... Krishna has met her eyes as he heard remya n pursed his lips, indicating his displeasure at makeup n stuff... 'er...no...he...I mean I don't like ...' pratigya began , blushing furiously even as she wondered why she looked at him in first place ... 'uff oh!' remya rolled her eyes at pratigya as she dragged her up n rounded on Krishna ..' u ask ur husband's permission to go to beauty parlour? ' she said giggling at pratigya ...what ? did she just do that? Pratigya thought, horrified... she stood embarrassed as everybody laughed ... krishna's eyes narrowed in dislike as he watched everyone laughing ...at her!...he wasn't liking it one bit!!! Why? I don't know!!... he gave the kid to avinash as he stood up n said ...'its nearing 4 o' clock... I think we should go now...' pratigya looked at him through her lashes...she could clearly hear dislike in his voice... As if he had been offended... The sudden silence in the room indicated that the others heard it too...' er... I didn't mean..' remya began awkwardly but didn't elaborate as sharada shot her a reprimanding look...

'oh, pls do stay here a bit long krishna ji'... sharada began but Krishna smiled politely at her...' its already late auntyji... I have some important calls to attend to n arrange for our journey back home...' ... Dilip smiled ...'ofcourse krishna , as u wish...' avinash smiled at Krishna , holding arjun ,who was trying to go to krishna's arms , holding out his hands... pratigya watched mesmerizingly as Krishna smiled n picked the kid into his arms , faintly hearing remya's muttered apology ... 'hey! Don't! thank u so much for having us here for lunch...' she said , smiling warmly at remya n hugging her ... 'see u at the party' smiled remya as they walked out of the house ... Pratigya smiled at the child n held her hands out , hoping the child would come to her, without even thinking who was holding the child ... n Krishna made to give the child to pratigya , before realising that it was her... Krishna n pratigya gazed up at each other both holding the child between them ... Pratigya blushed inspite of herself as she caressed the arm of the child , wanting to move away but unable to do so... the kid smiled at her n held his arms out n she took the kid from krishna's arms, tenderly... 'ahem, do remember what i told u' said avinash to krishna in undertone but pratigya heard it ... their eyes met on their own accord , their heart skipping a beat as they understood what he meant... they averted their eyes , feeling strange ...pratigya kissed the child on cheeks , smiling ...

'I will be sending my beautician to ur apartment shortly ... what do men know about parties ? its upto u to convince ur thakur sahib that no matter how he likes his wife to be around him , we ladies have to take into account many other facts '... giggled remya , winking at pratigya as she took arjun in her arms...'oh no remya, I can't...' began pratigya but remya shoved her towards the rover , rolling her eyes... krishna shook hands with avinash n Dilip , tryin not to look at pratigya... a servant placed her shopping inside the car as pratigya hugged sharada , smiling at her... she felt tensed as she climbed up next to him in front , her every fibre crying out to look at him, but she gritted her teeth , staring at remya n the child , waving her hand... krishna smiled at avinash as he touched the accelerator down ...