Suhani's POV
Yuvraj had gone for his morning jog. I took a shower and got dressed when my phone rang. Papa called to tell me that Mummy had a little accident at home. I was startled but he told me she was fine. She'd slipped and fallen in the bathroom and broken her elbow. Bhavna Di was out of town so I needed to get there fast and take care of everything, because Papa had urgent work. I tried calling Yuvraj and letting him know but he left his phone. I asked Maa for permission and she gave it right away, so I immediately left for home. Mummy was trying to make breakfast with her arm in a sling. I begged her to take rest. I made breakfast and Papa left for work.
I kept busy and didn't have time to reflect on anything. It took me a while to absorb my surroundings. I was home again and being alone with Mummy brought back scores of memories. The amount of things I missed couldn't be counted. In fact, I don't think I even realized how much I missed till I came back here. I missed the way it felt, looked, smelled, and sounded. I missed the warmth of it. Mummy asked me about every single person back at my sasural, starting and ending with Yuvraj, of course. I told her he was out on his morning jog and hadn't called yet.
"Suhani, you should have told him in person that you were coming here."
"It's fine, Mummy...Maa let me come, and she'll explain it to him. I tried calling him but he left his phone at home. Don't worry!" I said. I squeezed her hand. "Just take it easy, now...I'll make lunch soon."
"I miss your cooking..." She said. I sighed. "I miss cooking for you..." I said. I busied myself in preparing lunch. I was just getting started when my phone rung. I couldn't attend it because my hands were tied. It stopped ringing. I continued working and didn't notice that my phone actually switched off. I finished making lunch and charged it. When I switched it on, it turns out I had 15 missed calls from my Sadu. I smiled but felt bad. I slapped my forehead.
"Suhani, first you missed his call and then you let your phone switch off. Now your Sadu will be extra-super-duper Sadu." I shook my head at my mistake. He must be extra testy now, incredibly irritated. I laughed. "Deal with it, Yuvraj..." I thought.
Yuvraj's POV
I called her for the fifteenth time and of course, her phone was still switched off. I threw my phone on the bed and sighed. "First she leaves without informing me, and now she isn't answering her phone." I said. I paced back and forth in our room for a few minutes. Maa brought me my breakfast and smiled.
"You miss her already, I can tell." She said.
"No, I don't miss her! She doesn't even answer my call. Why should I MISS her?" I shot back.
"Yuvraj, beta...relax. What's with the anger? She had to go because her mom's arm is in a sling. Be mature...she wanted to inform you but you left your phone." She said. Mom touched my face. I calmed down.
"Ok, fine...but she isn't answering the phone. That worries me. I get anxious..." I said. I took a deep breath. "Ok, she probably didn't charge her phone." I said.
"There you go, now you're thinking, instead of just feeling. I know you miss her...don't worry; she will be back in four days. That's when Bhavna comes back so she'll take over for Suhani." Maa reassured me.
"FOUR days?" I asked. It seemed like four years.
Maa laughed. "Yuvraj, be patient...JUST four days...not four weeks, or months...she's at her mother's house. Let her be...and you call her again. I'm sure she'll pick up this time." She said. Maa left me alone and I decided to be mature and call Suhani again. This time, she answered her phone.
"Hello..." I said.
"Hi Yuvraj..." Suhani answered. She sounded cheerful and bright. I smiled.
"Hi, are you getting back at me for something I said or did?"
She giggled. "No, it's nothing like that...I'm sorry. I was making lunch and I couldn't answer the phone, and then I had to charge it..." She said.
"It's ok, I understand." I said.
"And I wanted to tell you about Mummy but I was in a rush..." She said. I interrupted her. "Suhani, it's ok...I understand everything. I mean, I was upset but Maa calmed me down..." I admitted. "Um, please ask Aunty...if she's better? Please tell her I called and I hope she gets well soon." I said.
"I will...I have to hang up now because I need to check on Mummy..." She said.
"Ok...take care..." I said. I wanted to tell her that I missed her already.
"Bye, see you in four days..." She said.
"Uh, Suhani, wait...um, I can call you, right?" I asked.
"Of course...I'll call you later tonight, in fact, after dinner." She said.
"Ok then, bye..." I said. I hung up. I played on my PSP, cleaned the room, sorted my cupboard, went for a walk with Sharad, had lunch, and read a book. At last, it was dinner time, I ate in an unusual hurry and everyone watched me with a curious expression.
"Slow down, Yuvraj...it looks like you have a train to catch." Maa said.
I tried to chew slower. My phone was in my pocket and I didn't want to miss her call. I finished eating and went straight to my room and she called as soon as I plopped myself on our bed.
"Heh..Hello..." I said.
"Hi..." She said.
"Hey, I answered immediately, you see? But you made me call fifteen times." I teased her.
"I know! I'm sorry!" She replied. We both laughed. "How's Aunty?" I asked.
"She's ok...her arm is a bit sore...but it's in a sling so she can't do much. We all just had dinner and I'm sitting with Mummy and Papa...we're watching the news."
"Oh, the news...exciting." I smiled. "Well, no...well, you tell me, what's my Sadu up to?" She asked sweetly.
"Sadu? Well, I'm not in a sadu mood right now..." I said. "I just had dinner...I read a book today too, and Sharad and I went for a walk. He misses his Bhabhi." I said.
"Aww! I miss PA Bhaiyya too..." She said.
"I'll let him know." I said. I was in our room now, sitting on our bed. It felt so quiet. I fell silent.
"Um, where are you right now?" She asked.
"In bed..." I said.
"Oh, so early?" She asked.
"Yeah, um...I'm tired. In fact, I'm looking forward to a good night sleep in bed, without anyone kicking and punching me every hour..." I said.
"Fine, then enjoy your big bed and your restful night alone and I'll hang up now. Goodnight." She said.
"SUHANI! Stop...don't hang up. Stop, I was kidding. I was just joking..." I said.
"Are you sure?" She sounded skeptical.
"I swear. I was playing...I don't mean that."
"Do you miss me?" She asked. My heart did this little flip and I got this funny feeling in the pit of my stomach hearing the question.
"What do you think?" I asked.
"I think you're stretched out over that big bed and are thrilled to have it for yourself, just like you said." She said, curtly.
"Suhani...this room is now yours just as much as it's mine...this bed is ours. Everything that's mine, you have a right on it now...and forever. Everything..." I said.
"Do you mean that?" She asked. Her voice softened.
"I mean it. I promise you..." I said. "I'm using your pillow tonight...it's softer. I like it." I said.
She giggled. "Ok...fine...it's all yours."
"Good...are you happy?" I asked. "I mean, happy to be home, with your parents?"
"Yes, of course. I'm really happy. I've missed them so much..." She said. "But I...I mean, they both said hi as well...to you and Maa..."
"Um, Suhani...shouldn't I come over and meet Aunty, and ask how she's doing in person? Wouldn't that be more proper? Mom suggested it as well."
"Yes, you can come tomorrow afternoon and stay for dinner and then go back...it's a great idea."
It was a GREAT idea, terrific, in fact. I tried not to sound as excited as I felt. I felt positively elated at the plan.
"Ok, I'll bring flowers and...whatever else she likes..." I said.
"Great...she'll be very happy to see you."
"Good, well...I'll get some sleep now...and see you tomorrow afternoon. Goodnight, Suhani..." I said.
"Goodnight, Sadu Maharaj..." She giggled and hung up. I smiled. I lay down and stared at the roof. The room felt so empty and quiet. I fell asleep pretty quickly but woke up in the middle of the night, which I rarely did. I immediately looked at Suhani's side of the bed and her absence struck me. I was too used to having her next to me now. I couldn't fall back asleep so I got up and used the bathroom, drank water, and returned. It still felt strange to be awake in the middle of the night in an empty room, so I ended up going for my morning jog a lot earlier than usual.
When I returned, she still wasn't there, of course. She wasn't making breakfast or sitting in our room. She wasn't chatting with Maa, or Sharad, or playing with Snoopy. I was struck by all the places that looked totally empty without her. Nothing had its usual sheen. Everything appeared dull and lifeless. I tried to get rid of the eerie feeling which enveloped me. I told Maa that I would visit Suhani's house and she loved the idea. She gave me gifts and other things to take along, and I brought flowers for Suhani and her mom.
Ramesh cooked lunch and I barely ate. I missed Suhani's cooking. I tried not to show it but my lack of interest in whatever was on my plate was painfully obvious. I excused myself and got ready, and left early. Sharad met me on the way out the door.
"Easy there, Guru...you'll trip over your own two feet like this..." He smirked.
"Zip it...wait till you get married..."
"Or, wait till I fall in LOVE." He winked. He nudged me in my arm.
"Oh, just SHUT UP. You're such a child, sometimes..." I said.
"Look who's talking..." He laughed. He shook me by the shoulder. "Guru, you're hopeless. Bhabhi has you wrapped around her finger... and you can't control yourself...you cannot live without her." He gave me a satisfied smile.
"Ok, if your lecture is finished, I need to go." I said.
"Sure...give Bhabhi my regards..."
"Shall do!"
I reached her house and rang the bell. I was holding some bags in one hand and flowers in another. Her dad answered the door.
"Hi..." I said. I smiled.
"Hello, Yuvraj." He smiled back, warmly. I entered. He took the bags from my hand and frowned. "There was no need for all this!"
"Maa sent these things for Aunty, actually. I just brought the flowers." I said. He made me sit and I waited for Suhani. She came at last, dressed in a light yellow saree, which she had never worn before. It was simple and light and she looked different. Her hair was in a ponytail. She smiled at me. I smiled back.
"Hi, Yuvraj..."
"Hey. Where's Aunty?"
"She's getting ready. She has a doctor's appointment. Papa will take her."
I felt a surge of different emotions being in her company again after a day apart. I was staring at her like she was someone new or different. She caught me staring and poked my arm.
"What happened?"
"Uh, nothing...um, you look...different..." I said.
"Oh, really?" She asked. She glanced over herself and adjusted her pallu.
"Yeah, but it's a good kind of different...you look so at ease. You look comfortable."
She smiled. "You look tired. Didn't sleep last night?"
I fidgeted. Was it that obvious? "No, I mean, I did...I slept great. I'm fine."
"Hmm..." She looked skeptical. Her mom came out and I greeted her. I gave her the gifts and flowers and she touched my face the same way Maa does, and smiled at me. She gave Suhani a look.
"Pankaj ji and I will be back in an hour. Will you two be ok by yourselves?" She asked. She smiled. Suhani's eye widened.
"Mummy!" She said. She smiled shyly. I got what was being insinuated and cleared my throat.
"We'll be fine, Aunty..." I said.
"Good. I'll see you both soon..." She said. They left and Suhani and I were alone. She went straight to the kitchen and washed the dishes. I pulled out a chair and sat at the dining table.
"How's Maa?" She asked.
"Everyone is fine...just the way you left them yesterday." I said. She smiled. "Everyone except you?"
"I'm fine! I can survive..." I said. I wasn't too sure of that, actually.
"Liar..." She said. She giggled. I got up and went to stand next to her while she finished cleaning up. I tried to help her but she stopped me.
"Why are you helping me?"
"Because I want to..." I said.
She looked unconvinced but that didn't stop me. She went to get her purse and said she would be back in a few minutes.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"I need to buy some groceries before dinner...but I'm not going to some supermarket, just the local bazaar...I don't think you'll like it there." She said.
"I'll drive you there..."
"I can walk...it's not far."
"Well, I'll accompany you." I said. I couldn't believe she wanted to go without me. She was surprised by my offer and smiled hesitantly.
"Oh, ok...sure..." She said. I nodded. We left for the market and Suhani became my guide because I really didn't know where to go and what to do.
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