Krishna , who had opened his eyes slightly saw his bauji n ma at the door... It was ages since he had seen them together...the morning was indeed the most beautiful one... Sumitra gasped , her hands frantically reaching up to brush away the colors which had spilled onto sajjan's expensive kurta ...'i just didn't notice ... I ... Take it off ...i will wash it n u can ...I mean ...may be dry clean .. i...' she told automatically , her eyes twitching slightly in pain as she realized that she was talking as if it were the old days ... That he would just give the kurta to her for washing ...sajjan said , smiling automatically...' no need ...its holi anyway...u go n check the ...' he stopped , suddenly realizing what he was saying...she looked up to meet sajjan's eyes , tears in them...sajjan's eyes twitched in pain too even as he let his eyes trail over her face n her cheeks , filled in holi color... she suppressed a sob n pulled down her ghunghat n moved away in consternation ... sajjan stood at the door as though he was clubbed on head, watching her retreating back... it was years since he saw her up close ... n her eyes !... they still were bright , happy...until she saw him!!! ... sajjan shook his head n looking around at krishna's form over the bed...what was she doing in krishna's room?... krishna kept his eyes closed as sajjan sat beside him n ran his palm along his son's forehead ,tears in his eyes ... He missed his wife , his love ... n he knew his son missed his mother ! ... how he wished that nightmarish happenings didn't happen! ... his mother would have been alive , n kishan too!...n she would be with him! All those dry n painful 21 years!!!! ...sajjan gritted his teeth in pain n anger... 'baba...wake up'... sajjan said lovingly , shaking krishna a bit... Krishna opened his eyes , pretending as though just awakening ... 'happy holi beta...' sajjan sighed , smearing the residue of the color over krishna's cheeks... Krishna tried to smile... his heart was paining ... sajjan looked around , caressing krishna's arm... he so wanted to ask him what was sumitra doing there, but thought better off it... what if krishna didn't know she was here! No need to spoil his mood !...
'happy holi to u too bauji...' krishna said, his voice cracking as he took some color from his cheek n applied it on sajjan's cheek...sajjan stood up, smiling forcefully ...'come down fast... we need to be at the mandir for the pooja ...' He said n patted krishna on the cheek adoringly n walked away ... krishna sat up, his heart waiting to explode... He put his head in his palms , trying to control the pain now mashing his heart ... his mother was with him all night! ...n he felt too good in her lap! ... he remembered pratigya's words ... yes, it was indeed after ages he had slept so peacefully ... pratigya! She called his mother to him...! ... why would she do that? N ...n ... n she understood how much he is craving for his mother! ...he could feel his heart brim... n ma! ... she was so happy... her voice , so full of love! ... may be chandu is right! she was repenting! ... 21 years is a long time... n... n she seemed so happy , being with him! Not as if she wanted him dead like last time!... may be she realized what he means to her! ...he dabbed his eyes as he remembered how she called him baba!... it was so like earlier! ... he could feel his heart brim... he stood up abruptly n walked towards his cupboard as the bathroom door opened n pratigya stepped out...
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Sumitra sagged against the door of her room , panting n crying ... she didn't know if she was happy or sad... She was with her son the whole night, seeing him up close after 21 years , feeling accepted by him as his mother... n Pratigya!... such a good girl! ...She had the courage n benevolence to call her to him n also assure her that her son loves her... n ...n she saw her husband , her love , after so long, up close ... she touched her tear stained face ... the holi color ! ... even unknowingly , he put color on her! ... Sumitra could feel her heart brim ... the best night n morning of her life... so far... sumitra took deep breathes , trying to clam down... but it was impossible ...
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pratigya was wearing a simple saari n she hastily walked towards the mirror , drying her hair, glancing at krishna through the corner of her eyes... he would definitely remember what happened last night! ... ofcourse he does! She could hear him rummaging through his dresses a little too louder...she chanced a glance at him n felt her cheeks burn as his majestic broad back n shoulders were on display as he was shirtless...she looked away in shyness , tearing her eyes from his with difficulty... 'shit!' she heard him curse n looked around to find a whole rack of his shirts down on the floor... she ran towards him , throwing away the towel n started picking up his shirts , one by one ...'I will do it... U go n bath...' she said , her face reddening ... krishna looked at her , the urge to thank her for the most beautiful night n day in his life, yet , choking him...to let her know how happy he is...his heart was feeling a lot lighter in years... his left palm closed around her right arm as he pulled her up n threw her against the cupboard door , his other hand coming to secure her head as usual , as he pressed into her , his eyes boring into hers... Pratigya gasped wildly , turning crimson as she had clutched at his bare chest n shoulder for support... She lost herself in his eyes n completely forgot about breathing , let alone moving...
krishna gazed into her shy n slightly panicky eyes n she into his fierce , yet soft eyes ...they could feel each others heart beats , their breathes mingling... they didn't know how long they stayed like that until krishna pressed in more n she let out a soft moan... Krishna bend his face to hers n she closed her eyes , parting her trembling lips, her eyes closing ... to her surprise n overwhelming shyness , krishna just went past her lips n rubbed his right cheek sensually over her right , smearing her cheek with the holi color... Pratigya sighed , her fingers tightening around his arm n shoulders n found herself snuggling her cheek more on his , her eyes closing n opening... Krishna withdrew n tilted her head back n to the right , so that he could rub his left cheek over her left cheek ...'thank u...pratigya...' he whispered in to her ear , his lips slightly bushing against her ear... pratigya gasped softly as he resumed gazing at her eyes ... so he remembers what happened in the night! ...n he isn't angry... but happy about it! ...he should've been awake in the morning... then he would have heard how much his mother loves him, she thought , her eyes brimming, not knowing that krishna indeed was up in the morning... She looked at him , her heart catching up with the happy fact that he was actually smearing holi color over her cheeks... happiness erupted in her chest... He was wishing her holi! ... She didn't really like any kind of festivities n she used to participate in them with friends only ... n ...n didn't the doc tell last night that he also wasn't very fond of holi...?... but...but... He is celebrating holi with her !...pratigya wanted to jump in the air in joy!... krishna saw her eyes dilating in happiness n he could feel his heart soar ... her lips broke into a smile n he found himself smiling too... N her cheeks ... so beautiful !... smeared with his color...!... he almost latched his mouth over hers when there was a knock on the door... His hold around her slackened n pratigya writhed out of his arms , red all over...
Krishna sat on the bed , gritting his teeth in frustration as pratigya started picking up the clothes , her bosom heaving as she panted slightly , even as gayatri cleared her throat outside the room... 'er...krishna? U up?' asked gayatri, listening intently ...'yes!' grunted krishna , his eyes on pratigya... pls send that girl to my room so that i...' she began but krishna cut her short ..'she is occupied...' , his tone irritated ... Pratigya looked up from the floor, her face crimson... their eyes met ... gayatri gulped down , anger n exasperation n apprehension in her voice ...'sajjan is waiting for u downstairs krishna! ... she needs to get ready for the pooja... ' ... Krishna clicked his tongue in frustration...' right!' he snarled , getting up n going towards the bathroom... pratigya couldn't help but smile as she started putting his clothes in order in the cupboard ... krishna saw her smile out of the corner of his eyes n felt his heart flip stupidly ... 'keep my clothes ready when I get back' he said to her , trying to make his tone snappy as he didn't want her to know that he was looking forward to it... But it came out as a veiled naughty threat ... Pratigya looked up at him , her eyebrow raised which clearly meant or what?' ... She just couldn't help it... krishna's eyes bored into hers trying not to look flustered ... He wasn't expecting such a reaction from her ... the next sec his eyes turned dark with lust... challenge ! in her eyes! A complete turn on! ... He smirked slyly , his eyes telling her dare if she really want to find out ... pratigya blushed , a delicious shiver running up her spine n turned towards the cupboard , clutching at the door... she felt his eyes linger over her back for some secs n then heard the bathroom closing shut... she let out a long breath she didn't realize she was holding ... his eyes! ... she sagged against the cupboard door, her bosom heaving... the kind of effects he has on her!...slowly her brain n heart came out of the haze it went to... she smiled like a teenage girl , looking at his cupboard ... he wanted her to take out his clothes! ... she could feel her heart congratulating itself for getting its wish ... She rummaged through his sherwanis , taking out one after another , not able to decide which one suits him best as according to her , everything suited him... oh no! choose fast, he will be coming any moment ... He may think that u deliberately didn't take out his clothes so that u can find out what's he going to do ... he blushed n felt her heart going overdrive ... u don't want to find out! ...really? ... r u sure?... she jumped as she heard the bathroom door opening n she looked around , clutching a cream sherwani ...krishna , who was praying in his mind that she was upto the challenge , his eyes raking her , found her with a sherwani in her hands... he hid his disappointment n walked towards the mirror , drying his hair... pratigya , her mouth slightly open , could feel her heart thundering n was first confused as to why he walked away n then realized , blushing , as she looked down at her hands... why do she had to hold this sherwani? ... she gulped down , trying not to look at him, who was in a towel around his waist only n placed the sherwani over the bed , croaking...' here... '...she chanced a gaze at him n krishna noticed it , her eyes roving along his shoulders n back... he smirked , their eyes meeting in the reflection... Pratigya blushed crimson n she hastily went out of the room...
Krishna gritted his teeth ...u fool! she is yours! Why did u let her go? So what if she was ready with ur clothes? ..u ..u could always make her stay her by...by telling her to attend to ur wound...ur shoulder ... he could feel his heart sinking! She didn't even asked him about his wound ! can't she see? He had removed the cotton while he bathed , so the wound was open! Can't she just stay there for some more secs n put medicine on it? ... he heard movement behind him n turned in hope ... It was chandu... krishna abruptly turned back towards the mirror , his face embarrassed n slightly irritated ... even chandu wasn't meeting his eyes, looking down ...'er... Krishna... The key to ur new rover...' chandu said awkwardly, but hoping that krishna won't ask him about the embarrassing incident , but he would tell him about maji being with him... 'er..ok...place it there...' krishna mumbled , gesturing towards the table... chandu nodded awkwardly n turned towards his cupboard ...he was about to open it when he saw the sherwani over the bed... he smiled n cleared his throat ...'er...did u put medicine ? I think not... here... Come n sit here...' chandu called krishna , trying to sound like normal... krishna looked around at chandu , his eyes narrowing ... ok , so he is behaving as though nothing happened ...good! that's easier ... he smiled back n sat on the couch ... Why the hell u r feeling embarrassed? I don't know!...
pratigya ran down the stairs to the hall ... there were many servants n maids , arranging holi colors in different thaals n bowls , arranging sweets n shaguns n all... pratigya went past them towards ma sahib's room n couldn't help notice that most of the maids n servants were staring at her n then looking away abruptly n then giggling ...she saw meera looking at her as though she was seeing a ghost ... She shrugged n knocked on gayatri's door...' here she is ! Is this the time to...' Shouted gayatri but stopped, her eyes widening in shock ... pratigya looked at her , perturbed ... gayatri's eyes wandered down to pratigya's hands , just to be sure... no!... it can't have happened ! she looked at pratigya in shock n hatred ... 'what, ma sahib?' pratigya asked , feeling weird...'what's that , on ur face?' gayatri hissed, just to be sure...pratigya looked confused , her fingers automatically coming to caress her right cheek n she automatically turned towards the mirror... she inhaled , blushing furiously...her cheeks were filled with holi color! ...ofcourse! how could she be such a fool!...no wonder everyone was gaping at her!...gayatri's worst fears came true as she saw pratigya blushing like anything...no way! Krishna hates all this stuff!... haldi! Holi color! Everything!... 'er... i...actually...he...' pratigya stammered , her cheeks flaming ...'go n wash it off... I don't want the traditional saree to get ruined...now!' snapped gayatri ...pratigya looked hurt...what? wash it off...? ...'come on girl!... after the pooja, we have the holi celebrations here...all VIPs r coming...we r already late...go!..' hissed gayatri, opening the door to the bathroom...pratigya nodded sadly n went inside ... Gayatri gritted her teeth...the game is getting out of their hands!... his lust is slowly taking dangerous path...!...she turned to find meera standing at the door, seething...'did u see her face?...did u see that bitch's face, ma sahib? Malik...malik put holi color on her face... I ..i will burn it...i...' meera snarled , her face contorted in jealousy n anger...'shh...what do u think ? I like it when I see that bitch strutting around showing off his gifts ?... but its imperative to our plan!... she is doing good job!... n u? look at u? I only told u to threaten her n make her do her job faster ! n u? giving her ample time to enjoy her life here in his bed!...i think may be I should send u away n hire ano...' gayatri said but meera cut her off... 'no ma sahib... No ! I won't let that bitch enjoy! Never!'... she stormed out of the room leaving a glaring gayatri... pratigya came out, drying her face in a fluffy towel... her heart had pained in washing the color off... n with each rinse of water , she had relived the sensation of his cheek brushing against hers... 'here...go n change, fast...' snapped gayatri , thrusting an ornamental saari into her hands...pratigya nodded, feeling excited ... oh! will he like her in this saari?
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'come krishna... we can go now! Ma sahib will bring the girl...' Sajjan said , checking his watch as krishna came down the stairs, chandu behind him... krishna wasn't listening... His eyes darted to the kitchen corridor , his heart beating against his ribs like drums... Sajjan , who himself has been glancing time n again towards the kitchen corridor , narrowed his eyes in confusion...so krishna knew that his mother was in his room?... he cleared his throat 'chandu... u n krishna can go now... I will come with didi...' ...chandu smiled ...'no bauji... I ... I will come later...' sajjan gritted his teeth remembering... ofcourse , chandu always took sumitra to the temple on holi... they hadn't done the pooja for the past 21 years as there was no bride' for the family as such ... n here , even though the marriage is a joke , they have to do it to please the society n media ... Krishna had looked up at chandu , him too remembering that every year chandu took his mother to temple on holi...after he n his bauji visited the mandir n came back!... He looked at the kitchen corridor , his eyes twitching in pain... he looked around as ma sahib came to the hall, practically dragging pratigya by arm...'we can go sajjan...its already late...' she said glaring at pratigya... angad looked at pratigya , as he came to the hall n stood next to meera, his eyes darting to krishna in loathing... krishna looked at pratigya , who looked up to meet his eyes , a beautiful blush in her cheeks ... for a moment he completely forgot about sumitra...her! So beautiful!...n then his mind jumped to his ma... years ago , he remembered seeing his ma in this very same saari...they would all go to mandir, him sitting on sajjan's lap in front seat, kishan uncle driving, chandu sitting between his mother n grandmother at the back...tears sprung in his eyes n krishna blinked ...
sajjan , who had looked at pratigya, couldn't help the shock of pain strangling his chest... it was his mother's saari, worn by his sumitra n now... now this girl gets to wear it!... this girl , who is just his son's new toy! N wearing their traditional dress!...but...but...he couldn't help notice that the saari looked so gud around the girl... so pure...so graceful...just like how it looked around his sumitra...no!... his eyes glinted in anger n pain ... 'yes! Its late...' sajjan said, nodding at pratap n walking towards the exit... pratigya , who had lowered her eyes after meeting his, looked up towards the kitchen corridor, feeling bad... poor maji! She is been treated as ...a nobody !... she looked around at him... he knew that ma came to him last night, didn't he? ... or is he going to ignore n pretend that such a thing didn't happen?.. ...how could he be so cruel? Her heart pained... ...'come on...' Gayatri pushed pratigya ahead... Pratigya saw krishna glancing at the kitchen corridor in unmistakable longing n pain... She didn't know how she gathered up the courage as she said 'er...maji isn't coming?' to chandu... as she could only look at chandu , without flinching ... everybody stopped in their tracks , sajjan , turning slowly towards pratigya, his eyes slits in confusion n anger n pain... pratigya completely refused to look at anyone but chandu... gayatri looked at pratigya in shock ... Krishna felt his heart shaking in suppressed pain... pratap looked at pratigya fondly ... 'er... I will take her to mandir after... I mean later...' said chandu, surprised ... Pratigya sighed , feeling disappointed ... krishna saw the sadness in her eyes n so did sajjan, his eyes narrowing ... 'come , this girl is purposefully making us late...' snapped gayatri pulling pratigya forward by arm...
Krishna could feel his heart rip in his effort to not to glance at the corridor again as the happiness n love in his mothers's voice that he heard came to his mind...'no need chandu... call her... U can take her with us...' said krishna , his eyes meeting pratigya's happy ones... the feeling! He could feel his heart brimming in happiness... 'what?' gayatri asked , shocked ... sajjan remained silent , his eyes darting from pratigya to krishna... the girl's eyes looked genuine... how could that be possible?...isn't she that worm shailendra's daughter?... n ..n what did krishna just say?... 'i... I will call her...' krishna said , his eyes boring into pratigya's... pratigya sighed in happiness... pratap looked between them in surprise n happiness... Chandu was gaping at krishna... Sajjan n gayatri looked in shock as krishna walked towards the kitchen corridor , chandu following him in happiness... sajjan glanced at pratigya n felt his shock multiple to see her smiling ...in adoration... N pride... what? ... this girl is happy? N her eyes!...
gayatri was looking at krishna's retreating back in utter shock... what's happening?...he looked at angad , who shrugged , looking confused... He didn't really care... he has some other plans up his sleeve... he looked at pratigya in lust n turned towards meera... if everything goes as planned , he will be having that chic under that bas***d's nose...' I have work for u...' he whispered to meera , who looked around at him tensed ...'when the guests arrive n all r busy in holi festivities, u will bring me that chic , u understood?' he hissed , his eyes darting towards pratigya... 'er... how?' meera said in undertone ...'I don't know how u do it , bitch... But ...here' he thrust a full bottle of bhang in her hand, which he had whisked earlier in the morning from the storeroom ... 'this one is special...' he said in undertone... He had spiked the effect of it...'get her drunk somehow n then bring her to me...somehow ...anyhow... ... I will tell u where later , after checking the safest spot ... n I will tell ma to credit 50 L in ur acct...' he smirked evilly at her... Meera smiled slyly ...gr8 ! just what she wanted ... ! malik won't touch that bitch again after getting maligned by angad!... why , he may even kill both this bas***d angad n that bitch !... she took the bottle n kept it aside ...
While krishna took a deep breath n knocked on the door, his fingers trembling, his heart thundering ... 'beta, its too early ... I don't think...' Sumitra began as she opened the door thinking its chandu who had come to call her... She stopped dead , inhaling as she encountered her son's eyes ...' u r coming with us... get ready...' krishna said , trying to sound casual, his eyes twitching ... he turned n walked back , before sumitra could say anything ... But sumitra was speechless as she stared at his back , her eyes welling up in tears ... Chandu smiled at her in happiness... 'what r u doing , krishna?' sajjan asked , his voice pained n angry... sumitra clutched at the door , listening as chandu looked around towards the hall in apprehension ...'she is coming with us ...simple... n I need no arguments in this bauji...chandu, bring her' ... krishna said , his tone making it final... ...'krishna! I ...' Sajjan began but krishna cut him short ...'u can go with ma sahib n pratap mama... I will take pratigya with me... come...' he said to pratigya n walked towards the exit... pratigya nodded , her eyes moist ...pratap followed krishna... sajjan made to say something but gayatri stopped him, holding his hand... 'no sajjan... if krishna wishes it , I don't think u should disappoint him... anyways she will be with chandu...let her come...' gayatri said , her eyes sisterly ... Sajjan nodded, his face hard... Sumitra sagged against her door, unable to believe what's happening... Chandu smiled at her 'quick ma... we r late...' ...sumitra nodded in a daze...
'u girl! Take that thaal...' snapped gayatri at pratigya... pratigya walked towards the pooja thaal as gayatri glanced at meera...'rakesh ! see to it that everything is ready by the time we reach back...n meera, check the colors n drums of bhang...we don't want our guests to complain...' gayatri said , turning to walk towards the exit...sajjan followed , his face set in pain...angad nodded at meera n walked away... meera walked towards the table where all the holi color bowls were kept along with the pooja thaal... As pratigya picked up the thaal, meera said to her in undertone...'enjoying too much r we?'... pratigya looked at meera in dislike... 'I don't get to go to mandir , bec I am just a mistress of this house ...! but u ...u r just malik's slave n u get to go to mandir n do pooja!!...' spat meera , her face filled with jealousy n loathing...pratigya tried to turn away in disgust n pain... 'u must get the PIN today itself ...! or else ur mother will be given sec dosage of drug! '... meera continued, pretending to arrange the bowls... pratigya inhaled in pain n shock... 'I don't know how u do it, bitch ...but if u want ur mother alive...' she trailed off, smiling evily... Pratigya clutched at the thaal, her heart full of pain... Meera walked off, leaving a distraught pratigya, who fought her tears as she saw sumitra coming with chandu , her face radiating happiness... Pratigya tried to smile as sumitra came to her n kissed her forehead ...'I don't know how to thank u beti...i...' she stopped as they heard the horn... sumitra dabbed her eyes...'go...he is waiting... I will come with chandu ...behind u...go...' she patted pratigya on her cheek... Pratigya nodded absently n walked out , her heart ripping...
Hope u liked it 😳
😉
Arjun
Cricket
Udne Ki Aasha
