This is the last chapter. You may feel it ends a little ambiguously, but that's intentional. And I haven't yet read or answered your comments in the previous chapter(s), because internet sucks, very short of time, and wanted to finish this. I will reply tomorrow.
Links to all chapters here.
"YOU have questions?" Suhani asked Yuvraj, "What questions?"
"First, how am I going to leave here with my shirt in that state?" He pointed at it--half the buttons had come off and the placket was torn.
She looked at him as if he were deranged. She also felt a little shy at the thought of the prequel and the sequel to the shirt-tearing. "What?"
"How will I wear that home?"
She went to her cupboard and pulled out a pack of T-shirts, still in their packaging, and tossed it at him. "Problem solved. Those should fit you."
"Your T-shirts aren't going to fit me," he said, even as he checked the label and found they would fit.
"They're not mine. I bought them for Gautam."
She'd bought them for Gautam. On one hand she was seducing him--giving in to him--on the other she was buying clothes for her boyfriend. "And that's my second question. What's your relationship with Gautam?"
"I could say: 'none of your business'."
He got up and went to her, grabbed her by her shoulders and said, "EVERYTHING to do with you is my business. I have been wanting to ask for a while, but what could I have said then if you answered me like that? But now, Suhani, you and I both know I have the right."
"You only have as much right as I give you. If you're saying that because we're married and you now want to play husband I must fall in line, uh-huh. At one time, yes, but not now. Don't demand."
"I didn't," he said, more calmly. "I asked. Politely. You made a fight out of it."
"How did I. . .oh leave it--there's no point arguing."
"Then can we just go back to what we were doing earlier?" She gave him a look and turned away. He put his arms around her from behind and kissed the lobe of her ear. "You're mean. You were never so hard-hearted."
She smiled to herself. "Gautam is my friend."
"And?"
"And what? And nothing else. He's very important to me, but," as she realised the reason for his jealousy, she pushed him away and turned, "What have you been thinking? That I'd fool around with two men at the same time? I should slap you for that."
His heart was singing. Nothing else. She'd been 'fooling around' with only him, Yuvraj. He must mean more to her. He pulled out one T-shirt and slipped into it. He could imagine that dragon's reaction if she came here and saw him shirtless. His mind returned to Gautam. He'd never forgotten her running into his arms. "You were so. . .comfortable with him. Too physical. You left me standing and ran into his arms."
"So?"
"I don't like that, Suhani. I don't think I can tolerate that. No, wait, listen," he said as she began to walk away. "I had to put up with your always putting Soumya before me. There was that Ankit--far as I could see, he was more into you than Soumya. And Rohan, let's not forget Rohan."
"Soumya was my. . ."
"Oh please, not that 'childhood friend like a sister' line again. That was supposed to mitigate everything. Admit it, you were wrong."
"I was wrong," she said in a small voice. "But Ankit?"
"Holding your hand, sucking up, while you were so oblivious. I hated him. And Rohan, the biggest threat."
"Who's Rohan now?"
"I'll tell you someday--why, haven't you mentioned him in your diary?"
"Don't remember. But you seem to have been jealous a lot, considering I was just your friend."
"I was retarded. I should have understood. Sharad kept trying to tell me."
"But I was too plain for you. Unsuitable. Disgusting, ill-mannered."
"You can be disgusting, my love, but I'll bear with it. The rest of it? I said I was retarded. You can't hold a mentally challenged person responsible. But, seriously, I am sorry. Really sorry, not just on your account, but on mine too. It wouldn't have come to this if I'd just seen what I felt before I lost you. I never even understood what I was doing to you.
"But don't change the subject, which is you never listen to me. You can be wrong. What I'm saying is, no matter how innocent your friendship with Gautam, if you and I are going to be together, that degree of familiarity is going to cause trouble."
"You're so narrow-minded. It was Gautam who made me rethink my attitude towards you."
"Oh, that's so sweet," he snarled sarcastically. "But I still don't want him or you clasped in each other's arms. Unless you want me permanently Sadu."
She wasn't happy, but she could see his point. In his place, she would probably feel the same.
They talked for a long time, thrashing out issues like Soumya and the difference in his feelings for her and for Suhani, his biases, the reasons for his attitude and how and why that changed. He tried to find out her feelings for him, she avoiding answering, and there was the usual baiting and fighting. Masabi knocked on the door at one point and said it was long past dinner time, and she wanted to sleep, so better eat. They shared Suhani's dinner, and Masabi cleaned up and, before she went to her little room, tossed him his mobile. Suhani raised her eyebrows in query.
"This Masabibi, na, she's another woman who scares me."
She frowned. "I call her Masabi, how do you know her name is Masabibi? Why did she have your mobile?"
He looked guilty. Damn this woman. Why couldn't she be foolish when it would help him?
"Yuvraj."
"She's Ramesh's aunt. I phoned Ramesh to ask him to tell her I'm your husband. Don'tgetmad,please, I only wanted to make sure you had someone trustworthy with you."
"Anything else you want to tell me?"
Oh what the hell. She would find out anyway. "This flat. I rented it for you. Why should my wife stay in a hostel? Mera haq tha," he said desperately.
She couldn't be angry, not really, but she lectured him a bit on butting into her life when she'd asked him to stay away, trying to take care of things like she couldn't.
"Okay, Suhani, bhashan ho gaya toh sone chalein?"
She laughed mockingly. "'Sone chalein'! I know what's on your mind. I think you should go home. Your mother must be worried."
"I'll message Sharad. He knows where I am, anyway. Suhani, I think I'll just drop dead here if you send me away."
She went into her room and he followed her and shut and locked the door. He searched for the switchboard, turned off the lights so that the room was dimly lit by moonlight. He selected a song on his mobile, and as the strains of Subhanallah played, he went up to her and said, "Will you dance with me?" He held her close, wrapping his arms around her, and after a moment she wrapped hers around him. Each felt they had come home. They swayed together, then he let his hands roam over her. He drew away her pallu and whirled her around to undo her sari. He pulled her back, and staring into her eyes, he undid the hooks on her choli, then pulled off his T-shirt. She hid her face against him. He maneuvered her towards the bed and gently pushed her backwards, falling with her, but taking his weight on his arms, outstretched on either side of her. He buried his face against her and said, "I love you."
When she awoke the following morning, they were still entwined, and she reached for the sheet to cover herself. He was asleep, his arm across her waist, his leg across hers. She nestled into his embrace, then kissed him softly. He awoke, and as he remembered the previous night, he smiled like a 1000-watt bulb had lit up. "That's the best wake-up call of my life. And I'm just going to get happier. Let's use your shower. Together. You won't remember, but I once saw you showering off mud--fully dressed. I even took pictures. I've had many fantasies of being under a shower with you."
She shook her head. She felt too shy right now.
"Spoilsport. Oh wait," he said and reached for his mobile. He found the picture and showed it to her, and showed her other pictures he had of her, them, and the two of them with his family. It hadn't all been bad, that time.
"Now, since you've vetoed my shower fantasy, get rid of that sheet and let me have my wicked way with you right here. I can't believe my Jhansi ki rani can be so shy," he said, as she held on to the sheet.
Later, as he dressed after showering (alone, alas) he wondered if she would agree to move back to his place. Maybe this was better for now, more private. Even with draconian Masabi out there. They needed time alone. The bathroom door opened and she came out combing her hair.
He didn't want to go to work. "I'll take a holiday," he said, catching hold of her. He kissed her nose. "I love you, Suhani Srivastav, Suhani Birla, whatever you want to be. Tell me you love me."
"Hmmm. You should go. I have work too." Of course I love you, stupid, she thought, but I think I'll make you wait a bit. And never again, Yuvraj Birla, will I be your slave.
"Okay, tarpao mujhe, tumhara haq banta hai. Umm, Suhani? You want to move back home or stay here?"
"You'd leave your mother?" He hadn't thought of staying away permanently. He looked worried.
She understood. "Give me some time. You don't have to stay here anyway." She slanted a look at him.
"As if I could stay away. But I'd hate to leave maa and Sharad for good."
"I will come home, but not just yet. Maybe on one of those tomorrows you promised me."
Fan Fictions
Hindi TV Shows
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Shiv Shakti
Cricket
