Part Twenty Two: Arziyaan
Delhi: 7:15 AM
Khanak &Shaantanu's Home
Khanak was up early as it was Shaantanu's first official day at work with Purple Aquarium Studios and she wanted to make his first morning to work a memorable one with his favorite breakfast accompanied with warm coffee and smiles. He was expected to report to his first meeting with the MD and Label managing team at around 8:30, several things would be finalized at this meeting in regards to his first album and the grand launch that was promised to him in his contract.
"Shaantanu uthh jaaye…! App ko maine shower main jaane se pehlay bhi uthnay ko kaha tha per app abhi tak bistar se uthay nahi hain…late hojaaye gay!" Khanak said stepping out the washroom, smelling like roses and feeling fresh.
"mmhh..." he muttered in his sleep, not wanting to give up the warm comforter even as Khanak went off in her loudest voice to get him up and out of the bed.
She gives him another minute to get up while she gently dries her long wet hair with the towel, trying to prevent her softest baby pink cotton kurta from getting drenched from the back like it usually does every time she showers.
"Shaantanu uthay na…late ho jaaye gay app…!" she is now standing over him, attempting to wake him up for the umpteenth time. He will not budge a single muscle until she really gets on his nerves, which was extremely easy for her to do, especially when she was full of energy after her refreshing morning shower.
She bends down to his level and allows her silky wet curls to drip down on his left cheek. He was sleeping on his stomach, dressed in his old gym tracks and his favorite solid black crew-neck. She notices how her husband's handsome features remained intact even as he wandered off in dream land and even in this carefree posture he was able to pull off an adorably peaceful look. It was quite an irresistible view for Mrs. Shaantanu Khandelwal who seemed to have forgotten all about her frustration in regards to her husband's early morning stubbornness.
"Wifey aggar kuch itna pasand araha hain toh aur kareeb se dekh lo na…I won't mind...!" He speaks up without opening his eyes as he was confident in his judgment of knowing exactly what she was doing and where she had been staring for the last few minutes.
"Shaantanu! toh app utthay huye thay?!...aur main kub se app ko utha rahi hoon…"
"Bilqual nahi! Maine tumhari yeh chori ankhein band kar ke pakri hain…tum rooz subah mujhay yunhi dekhti hoon, iss liye abb neend mein bhi mujhay pata chal jata hain kay kub meri wife mujhay apni bari bari aur pyaari si ankhoon se dekh rahi hain…" he informed her softly as he tucked her wet and loose curls behind her right ear, while she blushed holding on to his arm, giving away the secret of her thudding heart due to his touch.
Within the next few minutes she collected herself from the moment that they were sharing and sent him off to get freshen up and dressed for work. He obliged without protesting too much as he too was looking forward to his first day at work. She made him coffee and French toast but fixed herself some ginger tea and biscuits as that was the usual for her mornings.
"Aap lunch per ghar aaye gay na?" She asked as he sipped his coffee before tasting the deliciously golden brown French toasts.
"Khanak pehla din hain…main call kar ke bata doonga…kohshish toh karo ga per aggar nahi aa paaya toh please naraaz nahi hona…"
"Hmmm theek hain…toh phir lunch pack kardo?"
"Nahi…it's okay…tum mujhay khila khila kar moota kyun kar doogi…vaise bhi main akele khaana nahi kahta…"
"Jaanti hoon…issi liye toh keh rahi thi kay lunch per ghar aanay ka…"
"We'll do dinner together sweetheart…itna acha breakfast khila kar ghar se bheej rahi hoon, I am sure I won't get hungry so soon…" he said getting up from the table and moving towards the sofa where he had placed his guitar which his wife had cleaned multiple times this morning, it was gleaming instead looking just plain glossy.
He looks down at his guitar and strums if softly without taking it in his hands, simply tugging on the strings as it rested in its case. Khanak watches her husband from the breakfast table and notices how he is trying to ease himself back in to his own music, playing without giving his notes conscious thought or purpose and letting it all came directly from his pure heart.
For Shaantanu the whole situation felt surreal as the cheer and applause from his first stage performance was still vividly audible in his head. He could still feel the rush of excitement he had felt when he faced most of the population of Manali as his first live audience during the Opening Fest. It was unbelievable for him to consider himself as a true professional in the industry as he could only perceive himself as an amateur novice in the profession who was driven by his passion for music and not the fame or the glory that the spotlight offered.
"Shaantanu app ka wallet or yeh watch…bhool gaye thay kya?" Khanak brought him out his deep thoughts as she reached out with the same Rolex and wallet that he had pawned in Manali but she had bought them and gifted them back to him. They were symbolic for how profound their bond was from the very beginning.
"Jaan kay bhoola tha…" he smiled sweetly while forfeiting his wrist to her so that she can put the watch where it belonged, giving him yet another moment to stare at his wife's pretty face.
"Shaantanu…app kabhi nahi sudhar ne waale…" she declared in a "matter-of factly" tone while doing his watch for him as he held on to his wallet and enjoyed the view in front of his face until she spoke up again. "Hogaya…abb app jaaye…pehlay di time per hona zaroori hain…"
"Haan…lakin mujhe luck toh wish kiya nahi tum ne…" He pulled her closer and both her hands landed on his crisp light blue dress shirt, his grip had some kind of a jolting influence on her physical and emotional state as always. Their faces collided with one another and she lowered her gaze instantly as his remained fixed on her freshly filled parting.
"You know…meri good luck kiss…" he whispered hoarsely in her ear as if it was their "own little secret" that must remain discrete even from the furnishing of their apartment.
She blushed while taking in his scent and the quiet request simultaneously and then looked up in his light brown gaze slowly. He expected her to protest or turn him away with some excuse, but was surprised when she raised herself on her toes to reach his forehead and touched it with her soft lips while cupping his jaw with her slender hands. He lost himself in the moment until she lowered herself to her normal height.
"Good Luck…husband…!" She said withdrawing her hands from his face as he opened his closed eyes that were shut just so he can linger on in the moment as it got imprinted in his brain permanently.
"Thanks Wifey!" He responded in the same chirpy tone that she used when she declared his relation to her out loud. They loved this change of authority and identity in their relationship and to express and welcome that change they would say it out loud every now and then.
Shaantanu left home soon after instructing Khanak to be safe while he away and to call him if anything drastic comes up or if she starts to miss him but she refrained him from going any further with his list of reasons of when she should call him as he was getting a chance to romance her some more even then. She locked the door behind him and then went out to the balcony from where she watched him walk out of the building and catch the local from the nearest bus stand without realizing that she had her eyes on him the entire time until he boarded the crowded public vehicle.
Manali: 12:30 PM
Mathur Household
Adi had stayed back today from work as he had to take care of all the pending accounts of the received consignments from the past two months and prepare reports of those accounts to present to Mr.Raichand who had informed him of his monthly visit yesterday over the phone. He needed solidarity for work and the messy lone house was sufficient in meeting his needs.
Everything about his home had changed ever since Khanak left because the cleaning lady could only dust and mop the surrounding but the meaning of keep a house looking like a home was not in her job description so she only did what she was paid to do. His keys were always misplaced; his clothes were never washed or ironed on time, and he was getting used to of eating out all the time.
Ring…Ring…
"Hello…? Jee..jee bilqual Raichandji… main bus unhi accounts ko dekh raha tha…theek hain main voh bhi fax karva doonga ajj sham tak…jee…theek hain…App bhi…Main rakhta hoon." He disconnected the phone and placed it back on the receiver then looked about the cluttered mess he was surrounded with on the small coffee table. His calculator and the tasteless tea were the only two visible items could be seen without having to move around bundles of files and papers. He picked up the cup and went over the kitchen to get rid of the tasteless liquid he had considered tea.
"Pata nahi Khanak aur Shaantanu kahaan hongay…?? unhay phone karo…per maine toh khud hi mana kiya tha unhay…Meri Chutki kya khayaal toh rakhta hoga na Shaantanu…? Jahaan tak ussay jaan paaya hoon uss hisaab se toh bahut acha insaan hain voh…kafi parwa karnay vala aur Khanak se pyaar bhi bahut karta hain…bus umeed hain meri sooch sahi hoon…"Adi's mind wondered once again as he washed the lone cup and placed it on the rack that had the other lone plate he had used for dinner last night.
Before he heads back to the living room, he turns and walks over towards Chutki's bedroom which is neatly organized and properly dusted, contrasting the rest of the muddled house. Without touching a single thing in her room he stands in the middle and sighs in relief as if it was the only place in the entire house that held air for him to breathe.
Delhi: 1:30 PM
Purple Aquarium Studios
"Alright Shaan… this is your new studio…yahi per practice…recording…promotions…even photo shoots…sub kuch yahi issi building mein ho sakta hain, unless kahi outdoor locale ki koi specific requirement ho…" Shaantanu's new handler and label manager, Mr.Sharma informed him as they toured the fifth floor which held several recording and rehearsal rooms along with a huge main lobby and visitor's lounge that showcased several famous personality and their fame stories due to their affiliation with Purple Aquarium.
"Thank You Sir! It all looks great…I am really grateful…" Shaantanu smiled as he shook Mr.Sharma's hand after they had concluded their tour and were now standing at the door that had Shaantanu's name engraved on it.
"Well we are too…! app jaisa talented artist humari company ki zaroorat hain and with Shekhar's recommendation we are confident that you'll be next on out fame wall outside in the lounge…"
"Sir Shekhar…? Voh yahaan aaye thay…"
"Nahi…he called from Manali…the same day you faxed us your signed contract and sealed the deal with us…"
"Oh okay…I hope mera selction sirf unkay influence ki vajah se…"
"No way Shaan! Humari creative team app ki first performance mein majood thi…you were judged before Shekhar came in to the picture…he was just a reference not a source…"
"Thank You…app shayad nahi jaantay but main apni iss nayi pehchaan ko khud haasil karna chahta hoon…it's about testing myself more than anything else…"
"Good…I like that in you….yahi passion aur mehnat aik artist ko legend banati hain…duniya ki nazroon mein bhi aur media ki nazroon mein bhi…I wish you all the best…! app MD aur official team se toh ajj subah introduce hogaye hain, but meray ilaawa there is another label manager…she will be joining you and helping you along the way…she was on a tour with one of the other artist, but is expected to show up here before you leave today…"
"Okay…I'll just be in here working on my tunes…"
"Alright then…I'll be heading back up to the 8th floor to my office…tumhari desk per extension aur phone numbers ki list maine rakhwa di thi…if you need anything else…let us know…"
"Thanks…once again Mr.Sharma…"
"Oh please it's just Sharma…I would say Mihir even as it's my first name but Sharma tends to be used more often by friends and even family…see you around!" He said as he left Shaantanu to discover and get comfortable his very first new Studio for himself.
He turns the knob on the door that had his name engraved on it and stepped in smiling and looking around the vast room that held electronic and musical gadgets and instruments in different corners. The lighting was dimmed in the room yet the ambiance still highlighted the major features of the studio, including the mini stage type area where a microphone and a sitting stool were waiting for him and his guitar to create magic. He searches for the switch but finds an automated remote labeled "A/C & Lights" instead; he turns up the lights fully and discovers that he has a desk with a personalized name plate in the far right corner by the huge glass window, overlooking the busy Delhi roads and skyline.
"Wifey will surely love this…!" He thinks and then reaches for his cell phone after settling himself on the huge leather chair that not only smelled but felt brand new.
P.S: I am super sorry for a late update...but work and life beckons so yeah...i still require support and feedback from you guys because that keeps me motivated and will surely try my level best to update soon...please let me know how i am doing with the story line...feel free to predict...suggest..anything at all...
Love, Imane
