Part Twenty Five: Beh Jaane Do
It took a total of 4 days for Shaantanu and Khanak to become "Mr. & Mrs. Rockstar" around their new workplace. It was all due to their two awesome Album handlers, Sharma and Suhaani who contributed significantly in earning them the unique title. They had practiced the newly added responsibility of admiring their favorite couple's complimenting nature and talents at every given opportunity. It was all well deserved as their music was truly magic because it represented the perfect union. If Shaantanu was the chord, then Khanak was the lyric, If he was the rhythm, then she was the inspiration for it. Every time the red light above the Studio door went off to indicate their practice session, the Studio floor would go silent and listen intently to what they could hear from behind the door. Even the instrumental pieces that Shaantanu strummed were charming on their own; while Khanak's powerful practice in Sargam would captivate the entire staff for minutes at times.
Delhi
Gurgaon Central Apartment Complex
9:10 AM
"Khanak lyrics kahaan tak huyi…?" Shaantanu questioned Khanak who was busy with her early morning gargling in the bathroom. The warm water helped soothe her over worked throat and gave it a refreshing feel so that she can execute high vocals and different pitch with ease.
"Kha-na-aakk!??" He sings out his wife name in a sleepy tone when she doesn't reply, the door to their attached bathroom is open slightly and so he knows that she is able to hear him from their bed where he is reclining in a lazy posture, half asleep.
She comes out the bathroom with an irritated expression and stomps her feet in order to get him to look up at her water filled mouth which caused her face to swell up as if she was getting ready to blow up a birthday balloon.
"Ahhh!" He sat up screaming after witnessing his wife in her scariest expression and the blown up face which did absolutely nothing to help the situation, but giving Khanak an advantage as she didn't need to put in any other extra efforts to get her husband up and away from his stubborn sleep. "Yeh kya tareeqa hain kissi ko daranay…I mean uthanay ka?" Shaantanu complained looking up from the pillow which he was using as a shield.
Khanak gulps down the warm water slowly as she felt her uncontrollable laughter approaching after seeing her tall and handsome husband get scared like a little child. She knew she couldn't hold the water long enough to run back to the bathroom as her laughter had already escaped beyond her physical control. As her laughter echoes all around their apartment, he rolls back his eyes while fixing himself up and regaining his manly confidence.
"Arey aisay kyun hans rahi ho…? main..main koi comedian ho...! He complained pulling her by her wrist and grounding his knees on the bed so he is in half standing and half sitting position.
"Abb app ko pehli baar itna dartey huye…umm.. voh mera matlab hain kay itni excitedly uth thay huye dekha hain toh mujhay yunhi hansi agayi…" Khanak made a lame excuse, trying her best to keep her laughter from bursting out again; she knew he was well aware of her bluffing expressions.
"Hmmm…Madame mujhay weekend per iss tarah uthanay ki saaza millay gi…aur phir tum abb tak hans rahi ho abb toh saaza zaroor millay gi…!" he threatens her and then in a single swift motion he has her pinned against the dresser next to their window. She smells like her Morning Orange outburst face wash and is still dressed in her night suit pajamas and his overly huge T-Shirt.
"App apni bewi ko saaza de gay…?"
"mhmm…Wifey ne kaam he kuch aisa kiya hain kay saaza toh banti hain…" he leans in and she breaths in his minty fresh mouthwash that he used when he got up earlier in the morning for his usual work out. It was his habit to wake up early for his work out but then go back to sleep until Khanak persistently got him out of the bed using her adorable tactics every morning.
"Lakin jaan ke toh kuch kiya…sub khud he hogaya…"
"Exactly Khanak…sub kuch khud he ho jata hain…" He is extremely close to her at this point and his hushed tone is making her a little numb because she can feel his breath on her skin, under her jaw line to be very exact.
"Sha..Shaantanu app…"
"mhmm..main kya…?" he is now leaning on his left and her right, their height difference is usually prominent but he has managed to lean at an angle which grants him complete access into the depths of her beautiful bright eyes. They were now his cue for waking up to a new day, he had forgotten all about inanimate objects known as alarm clocks and their existence.
As soon as his light brown orbs penetrated her darker ones, she was lost in him completely, forgetting all that she was going to say to get out of his grip and carry on her morning gargling rituals. She allows his thumb to circle funny patterns around her wrist while his other hand holds on to her inches below her rib cage, he has a light, but protective hold on her which she doesn't find easy slip away from.
Shaantanu could see it in his wife's eyes, the door opening to her soul, letting him in, like the way she had when they decided to embark on a journey of a lifetime as man and wife without any support. Like an ocean, in that moment all he wanted to do was dive in, because she was pureness and solace that he longed for.
His hand lightly found her cheek with a smile, needing to touch it, as his heart skipped a beat with the look in her eyes.
In second they were swept away, far out to sea, where no islands resided, no rescue boats went. In a second their lips came together, and their world fell into place for a time.
The moment slipped between their hands, and moved rapidly as Khanak's breath quickened with his closeness. Piercing russet eyes seeped into her soul with the look of love in his orbs, as if he was blind to anything but her sight.
Heart pounded in her chest with anticipation, like the beat of a drum solo to a silly love song that he made fun of when she wanted him to play it during their practice yesterday. Khanak had never traveled this far before, but lost in Shaantanu's gaze there was no where else she'd rather be. No one else she'd rather do this with, and they hand the entire weekend to do just what her heart desired in this intimate moment that was all theirs.
Manali
Mathur Household
11:00 AM
Adi had his bags packed for Mumbai as Mr.Raichand wanted him to transfer over to his biggest store there because the supervising manager had resigned from the position for certain personal reasons. Adi was reluctant in leaving Manali, especially when he found out the transfer was being made to Mumbai where Shaantanu and Khanak must have started a new life together by now. He was not in contact with anyone after that one call from Sunil Khandelwal which blamed him for everything that had happened after the eventful Opening Festival night.
As much as his brain wanted him to back out from the transfer, his heart pushed him for it because even now he waited to hear back from Khanak. To know that she was happy with the choice she made for the sake of her love. To be able to see how well Shaantanu had fulfilled his promise and maintained the pact that he had promised him as he handed his precious sister in his genuine hands. He had locked up everything in the house and only packed certain necessary items in his duffel bag as Mr.Raichand had already made arrangements for his stay there. He was ready to embrace the change.
Adi walks to the front door and take one last look around his home as the memories from his childhood come back to life in the back of his mind like a projector reel, he hears his mother's morning prayers and chants, his father's golden words about life and hardship, and his Chutki's giggling laughter. He decides to tour the empty rooms before leaving and walks back in with a heavy heart.
He knows he will miss his home, but he also knows that this step is crucial if he wants to make things right with his only family, Khanak and her new family to which she now belongs in. Life is too short for this cold war to carry on without any real reason, and his heart is also tired of battling everything alone, he needs to survive, he needs to surrender to his emotions, to relationships, and to happiness.
He was off to Mumbai for more than just the supervising position at one of India's leading fabric store, he was going to become a brother again, to reconcile at any cost with the Khandelwals as he now considered them his Chutki's family, his family.
Delhi
Childern's Playland
1:30 PM
Suhaani has taken Sia out to her favorite place where she is able to pick out her favorite rides and have authority over the flavor of her ice cream, face painting, and play games that will win her the biggest teddy there is at every stall. Suhaani loved spending time with Sia on the weekends as she is hardly there for her recess at school and evening play dates with her friends from school. Suhaani has comprise so much in her life but when it comes to Sia she is extremely possessive about her time and manages to set the weekends just for her, after all she is the only parent that Sia has.
"Maama voh train vaali ride per phir se chalay?" Sia asks Suhaani who is busy tying her two year old's shoe laces that are untied for the fifth time, definitely not the right shoes for a day which involves rigorous walking and running at times.
"Yes Angel..hum chal saktay per pehlay lunch kar le…app kub se rides mein busy ho, kuch khaaya bhi nahi…" Suhaani reminds her of food as she lifts her up in her arms and walks over to one of the benches under the trees.
"Maama kunch baad mein na…pleeeaase..!" Sia pleads cutely as she puts down her mother's sunglasses from her forehead to their proper place.
"Angel app ne subahay se kuch bhi nahi khaaya…sirf iss juice per charged ho aur dekho abhi saarar bachay lunch kar rahay hain…it's past lunchtime meri jaan…" she points out to other kids in the surroundings that are enjoying burgers and fries from the food stalls.
"Lakin mujhay yahaan kuch acha nahi lagta…burger bahut spicy hota hain…!" Sia told her mother the reason behind her avoidance for food at the park.
"Acha…toh phir ghar chalo…Maama bana deengi apni baby ko acha vaala burger…without spice…"Suhaani suggested smiling at her and fixing her hair at the same time, her cheeks were red like tomatoes due to the heat this afternoon.
"Mujhe burger nahi kahna…" Sia declared sipping juice from her Disney princess flask.
"Umm…toh phir Maggie…? Maggie toh bahut favorite hain na app ka…?" Suhaani reminded Sia of her favorite noodles but saw no change in her expression.
"Shaan bahiyya ka special sandwich kahaana hain…"
"Shaan ka sandwich? App ne kub kahya?"
"Aaani aur main rooz kahtay hain unn kay lunch box se…Aaani chupke se sneak kar leti hain unka lunch aur voh meray kehnay per unhay kahnay detay hain…"
"Really…? app Aaani ko manah nahi karti kay good girls don't sneak in lunch boxes…"
"Per Bahiyya toh khush hotay hain jub hum unka sandwich chupke se sneak kar latay hain…"
"Hmm…aur kya karatay hain…"
"Aur Aaani aur mujhe khud apnay hands kay saath khilatay hain jaise app mujhay khilati hoon…"
Suhaani smiles lovingly at Sia cute gestures and the way she describes her time with her dearest Aaani at the Studio. Although Khanak and Shaantanu were extremely busy with the Album, they always find some time and made sure to entertain Sia when she came to the Studio after school and Suhaani got caught up in official business with Sharma. It was a part of their routine as well as the little one who enjoyed swaying or piggy backing in Shaantanu's arms and indulging herself with Khanak's storytelling and girly hair makeovers.
"Toh Aaani aur bahiyaa ke pass chalay abhi hum…?"
"Weekend per…? voh dono busy hogay Angel…"
"Pleaseee….main phone kar leti hoon na…voh busy nahi hongay…"
"Hum Monday ko phir milay gay unhay…ajj nahi jaan…"
"No Maama! Main Monday thak bhooki raho gi phir…mujhay voh Bahiyya ka sandwich khaana hain na…pleaaasee!" Sia pleads leaping on to Suhaani's shoulder as she sighs and starts to walk over to the parking lot where their car is parked and after they get settled in the car Sia would make the call and let her Aaani and Bahiyaa know of her craving for her favorite type of sandwich.
Delhi
Gurgaon Central Apartment Complex
2:05 PM
Khanak is now hanging up clothes out in the balcony which Shaantanu helped washed, but also stretched out the washing time by starting a water fight in the sink. They were far more drenched that the clothes that were being hanged on the line. It was her idea to get some work done, but he had altered the plan by adding in romance with work just as he had declared to do so in his house rules. She couldn't complain, after all it was a rule!
She is placing her dupattas and his tees out on the line, careful not to get the bright colors from her dresses on his dress shirts that are usually in light shades of pastel blue and cream. He is clinging on to her as she goes on straightening the clothes on the line. Lets him explore her exposed waist as she is wearing her cotton sea green blouse and the matching lining skirt without the actual saree; he wouldn't let her tie it up properly and kept messing up the pleats and the folds. She got frustrated and left it on the bed. The blouse and the skirt lining covered what she needed to cover. He was teasing her continuously and she would tease back by spontaneously giving him a soft peck on his dimpled cheek or letting herself sway side to side as if they were dancing. The balcony became the perfect spot for romance as they found themselves lost in lavender smelling detergent, droplets from the wet clothes, and each other.
"Wifey saree suits you!..."
"Pehni kahaan hain maine…?"
"Acha toh phir yeh kya hain…half saree…?"
"Pata nahi…lakin issay kum kaproon mein main app ko ghar mein ghoomtay huye nahi milnay vaali…"
"Ghar mein ghoomnay ki zaroorat bhi kya hain…bus bedroom mein he reh jaaye gay hum…what say?" he smirked nuzzling her neck line in between the bright yellow tie and die dupatta on the line and his navy plaid shirt.
She plays with his wet fringe that peeks in from his fair forehead and then traces her index finger seductively down to his lips, he feels intoxicated by her touch, she is not facing him but leaning on his chest with his hands engulfing her waist, the height really complimented the pair as all she needed to do was tilt her head back and look up a little to find her way back to his gaze staring down at her plump lips.
P.S: Hope YOU Enjoyed IT!
Read, Enjoy and Comment back...as always Thank you for Reading!
-Imane😳
