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Part Nineteen: Hona Tha Pyaar
Manali: 8:00 AM
Adi was busy fixing up his shop before he opens the door for the weekly sale; he was in extra early as there was no reason to linger in an empty house with his Chutki's infinite memories all over the place. He avoided staying in his empty home as much as he can because he knew that he didn't have enough courage to face the stillness to the place that was once peaceful and alive.
He had thought about Khanak and Shaantanu multiple times ever since the day they both left town. Their gang from the University also came by asking for them and all he could say was that they were gone for now and had no intentions of returning for the time being. Sir.Shekhar was the only person whom Shaantanu informed before leaving for Delhi. Although Shekhar was a bit confused at his refusal for Mumbai which had one of the nation's greatest record labels, he didn't question him any further once he revealed that he was leaving with Khanak. Their phone conversation had lasted only a few minutes before Shaantanu hung up from the post office where he was faxing the signed contract to Delhi.
Adi and the other employees at the shop were bombarded with clientele soon after they flipped the open sign on the door. As the only store manager Adi interacted with several customers around the store without limiting himself to one area, keeping busy all the time until Mohit informed him of his phone call in the back office.
"Kaun hain Mohit?" he questioned wondering who could be at this time as he was not expecting any calls.
"Pata nahi…lakin shayad Mumbai ka number hain…"
The first thing that came to his mind was Khanak and Shaantanu but before his thoughts could linger on aimlessly he picked up the receiver and answered.
"Hello…?"
"Additiya Mathur main Sunil Khandelwal bol raha hoon..Shaan kahaan hain?"
"Jee…?"
"Save the pretense Mathur…I need to know where my son is…"
"Sir main nahi jaanta voh kahaan hain…Mumbai mein he…"
"Voh yahaan hota toh main iss phone call per apna aur tumhara time waste nahi karta…"
"Lakin voh yahaan bhi nahi hain Sir…I don't know.."
"Toh phir tumhari behn toh hogi na…uss ko bataya ho ga uss ne, mujhe usse khud baat karni hogi…phone number…"
"Nahi Sir…Khanak bhi nahi hain Manali mein…"
"Kya.! Do you mean to say that tumhay apni khud ki behn ka kuch pata nahi hain?"
"Jee nahi…abb voh meri zindagi ka hissa nahi hain…Shaantanu jahaan bhi hain voh uss ke saath hain..."
"How irresponsible of you Additiya! Tum ne apni behn ko itni asaani se jaane diya…mere careless betay per blindly trust kar ke tum ne bahut bari galti ki hai..."
"Shayad ki hain…lakin iss mein app kay betay ki puri marzi shaamil thi…"
"Voh jazbaati hain per tum toh…"
"Please Sir…galti kar denay ka blame de chukay hain app aur isse agay apnay flaws mein main koi aur addition nahi karna chahta..."
"Tum chahtey toh ussay rook saktey thay…"
"Nahi…jub aik bahi ho kar rook nahi saka toh phir kuch din ka dost ya employer ban kar Shaantanu ko kaise rook leta…"
"Kamzoor ho tum Additiya…bahut kamzoor…!"
"Haan bahut kamzoor…" He hangs up after silently agreeing with Sunil Khandelwal declarative tone. New roots of doubts and suspicions were planted in his mind as he stared at the receiver on the phone. Where were they if not in Mumbai?
Delhi: 12:00 PM in Sadar Bazaar
"Shaantanu yeh couch mujhe pasand hain…app isse final kar de…"
"Nahi Khanak yeh itna odd sa hain..half metal type and half weird cushion like…kuch aur dekho na…"
"Nahi yeh perfect hain living area kay liye…" She had already checked around the crowded furniture shop and was convinced that it was the right choice within their budget. Shaantanu was least bothered about the price tag because he didn't want her to worry.
"Tum nahi mano ge meri baat…dekho beht kar dekh lo aik baar..." He pulls her by her shoulders and makes her sit on the small couch with dark brown iron skeleton and huge coffee colored cushions. She feels the softness and leans back; Shaantanu joins her as she closes her eyes while resting her head for a moment.
"Shaantanu perfect hain…! app iss per beht kar apni puray din ki thakaan bhool jaaye gay…" She had no idea he was already sitting next to her as she still had her eyes closed. He smiled softly at her serene expression and then leaned in closer just in time for her to feel his presence and open her eyes.
"Khanak aggar tum mere saath ho na toh phir meri har mushkil, har thakaan khud he durr ho jaaye gi…"
"Main aap ke saath ho Shaantanu hameesha and forever…!" She placed her hand on his and held it tightly before continuing with "…main bhi aur abb se yeh perfect couch bhi…please final kar le…" She pouted cutely as Shaantanu shook his head amazed at her transition from intensity to cuteness within the last few seconds.
"Fiineee! Lakin voh dresser jo tumne peechay choora hain voh bhi add kar de gay…"
"Shaantanu voh bahut expensive hain…fazool mein…"
"Dekho yeh tumhari pasand hain aur voh meri…dresser acha hain, uss kay saath voh lamps bhi free hain…"
"Lamps ka double charge unho ne dresser ki price mein jo add kar diya hain…" She rolled her eyes and folded her arms in protest.
"Wifey samjha karo na… yeh bechaare bhi toh apna business kar rahay hain na…"
"Toh iss mein humari kya galti hain…app inn se keh kar thodi aur bargaining kar le…"
"Khanak yeh sub installments mein lena hain humay iss liye price toh final hogi… aur phir 6 months mein sub payments ho jaaye gi… "
Shaantanu finally got Khanak to agree with the whole installment plan for the furniture they had bought from the small but reasonable store in the market. The salesman promised to deliver and settle everything in the apartment the following day.
They spent the rest of the afternoon shopping for various things off the small stalls where Khanak could easily bargain for crockery and decorative items like wall art, pottery, and rugs. Shaantanu had never seen the smart shopper side of his wife before; she was a pro at getting her way when people tried to convince her for a higher or an unfair rate. He simply watched and helped her pick out things which will adorn their home.
"Thank God! Finally hum ghar aagaye…" Shaantanu sighed in relief as they entered their apartment around five in the evening.
"App yeh saarey shopping bags ko yahi side per rakh kar fresh hojaye main kuch khaane kay liye dekhti ho..subah kitchen ka saara samaan toh humne set bhi kar diya tha…"
"Aik minute ko tehro toh sahi Khanak…meray saath behto na… please…" He pulls her by her tiny wrist and she lands in his lap perfectly. The huge rocking chair that came with the half furnished apartment was her favorite and now she loved it even more as she threw her arms around him and lost herself in his intense eyes.
Her simplistic beauty was like a spell to which he had already surrendered himself to. He watches her turn red in his arms and the close proximity in which they are makes her a bit nervous. She is currently biting the corner of her rosy lips completely unaware of all sorts of different thoughts going through his head as he watches her intently. He inches closer and she feels her heart thud in her thoracic cavity. Her hair falls on her face as he intentionally rocks the chair back, wanting her hold on to him tightly, never letting go and she does.
For a moment they both feel nothing but their rhythmic breaths that were taken in synchronization, resembling the way he strums his guitar for the beginning of a slow song. They let it sink in; proclaiming everything in this moment as theirs. His lips brush past her left cheek and she tightens her grip on him again. His eyes are open but hers are closed, she is in the process of imprinting every little movement in her temporal lobe. Her first kiss with the man who had loved her unconditionally with his whole heart and would be the only one to practice this right for as long as she lived; it was a moment captured in time.
Their lips moved over one another in a slow steady passing. It was as if they were getting to know each other again. She felt his other hand move to her back to bring them even more closely together. She felt his tongue slowly swipe against her lips and she opens her lips gently, granting him all access. His grip around her remains tight as she feels extremely comfortable in his lap. He felt her slip his bottom lip into her mouth and nibbled on it gently. She then sucked on it to soothe him before breaking from their first intimate exchange as husband and wife.
P.S: I am super bad at describing "mushy" moments..this kiss took so much effort...LOL...I hope it wasn't a disappointment and emotions were conveyed correctly...Enjoy reading! and comment at your convenience please!
-imane
P.S: I am super bad at describing "mushy" moments..this kiss took so much effort...LOL...I hope it wasn't a disappointment and emotions were conveyed correctly...Enjoy reading! and comment at your convenience please!
-imane
Vanshaj
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Udne Ki Aasha
