Chapter 29
She was humming to herself as she kneaded the dough. The trial was to start tomorrow and Rudra had been working all hours this week. But she had made him promise he would come home on time tonight. He would need decent sleep if he was going to mentally prepared tomorrow. The rest of the family had gone to a function her plan was make sure he had a sumptuous meal and goes to bed quickly.
Once the meal was ready she quickly cleared the kitchen and put some away in the fridge. She paused. Taking a bottle of cold water, she splashed it on her face. There was some relief from the heat. She repeated the gesture again. "You shouldn't do that Shrimatiji," she heard a voice. Guiltly she placed the bottle on the counter. He slowly walked towards him. She gulped. She always knew she would get caught. She expected it to be Kakisa who would then berate her about wasting water when in the summer when their well was half empty.
His pleasure rose as he saw her look like a doe caught in a hunter's trap. "I wanted to follow Kakisa's rules. But it was too hot. I couldn't help it," she said. "You broke my revered Kakisa's rules. You must be punished," he said backing her to the door. She watched his action with growing anxiety. He reached behind her and opened the fridge door. She fell forwards with her hands spread on his chest. He raised his eyebrows. She moved her hands away and stepped out of his way.
She fell back when he pulled her back. She glared at him. She may have broken the house rules. But she wasn't a ragged doll for him to keep pulling and pushing. He just smiled and raised is hands to caress. She turned away in no mood for his games. She gasped when she felt the chill on her cheek. His hand moved across her lips and she noticed the cube of ice in between his fingers. Her eyes shone brilliantly as she parted her lips to suck it in.
He shook his head. Moving it down her neck. "Rudra," she moaned clutching his shirt. She shut her eyes as his lips followed the droplets replacing its coolness with heat once more. "It's still hot," she whispered. She could feel his smirk against her skin. He reached for the ice tray once again and brought it to her mouth. She licked it gratefully. But before she could savor it, his mouth was over hers claiming ownership of the melting treat. She trembled at his merciless assault.
His arms went around her steadying her. He could feel her slipping away. He knew he was being too rough. She should have pushed him away. Instead she was holding on to his uniform. He felt her breasts rise as he drank from her neck. The sweet flesh of his wife's skin with a hint a brine made him want to have her right here on the kitchen floor. He gently eased her down. She broke away shaking her head. This was not the place. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. A hint of a smile grazed across her radiant face before he scooped her in his arms. She wouldn't object to their bedroom.
He placed her on the bed and bent down. "Door?" she asked realising that he hadn't locked it. He was aware that they were alone. The daytime guards were working overtime just to watch over her along with the night shift ones. He kissed her deeply once more with a little gentleness this time. Her fingers settled at the nape of his neck. Within seconds he lost himself to the ministrations of his wife.
Suddenly he felt her push back. He shifted his weight slightly. "Rudra," she said softly pointing to his pants. He was confused. Surely this wasn't the first time she felt his member. "Your phone. It's vibrating," she explained. He got off her grounding his teeth. He knew exactly who it would be. Sequira!
It had been a long week where he had to submit to that man. He had no idea why Singh Sir trusted him so much. After all, it was under his watch Tejawat had florished. So why was he brought back? He wanted him off the case. Nandini and Bindi were his secret weapons who could destroy Tejawat but in this lawyer's hands anything could happen. "What proof do you have?" Singh Sir had asked him repeatedly. But he and Aman had held their ground. They weren't willing to bet everything they had that this officer was connected to Tejawat somehow.
"Hello! What? I'm coming right over," he said grabbing his bike keys. He turned to his wife whose eyes clouded wih worry. "Don't worry. I'll make sure everything is fine," he assured. She followed him to the front door. "Go pick Ranavat, I mean my father and bring him here immediately," he ordered one of the constables. He knew that they were all trying to give them privacy ever since the false baby alarm. But tonight his Paro needed them back. He vaguely wondered why Kakisa was pro-baby. How will this work in her favour?
Paro smiled as she listened to Bapusa's account of their evening. Sumer's friend was getting married and apparently the bride was shorter by a foot. "He will be able to carry her in his pocket," he said bursting into laughter. "So what if she is small in stature, her father has compensated for that by giving such a hefty dowry. Now I can't say anything about Parvati beendini. But Maithili's family weren't so generous," Kakisa said. Jeeja's eyes filled with unshed tears as she stood next to he husband.
"Arey Mohini, this girl is 24 karat gold. You should have given them gifts for marrying her to your son," Bapusa replied. Kakisa just rolled her eyes. Her Sumer's beendini will actually be gold. Not this woman who can't give her grandchildren. This haveli would then resound with their laughter. Samrat gave a weak smile to his wife who shook her head. This wasn't new for her to get affected so. Paro's eyes met Bapusa's. It was full of untold pain.
She took him a cup of masala chai. "Thank you beta. There is nothing more satifying than a cup of homemade tea after a heavy dinner. It would have been nice if you had come. Maybe my Rudradev will loosen the shakles after the trial," he said with a smile. She returned his smile. There were so many things she wanted to do after the trial. "Add packing to your list too. That mad fellow will request for a transfer and take you away from us all," he said.
"You would come with us Bapusa. He may not say anything openly but he needs you around," she said reaching his hand. Bapusa laughed. He knew Rudra better than anyone and that it is why he felt torn in two. "I'm getting old now. I don't know how long I will still be around. But as long as I am alive, I want to stay here. You see, Babloo and I grew up here. I ruined my chance with Rudra but if you let me I will be a wonderful grandfather to your children. We used to have so many adventures here. I can teach them so many tricks," he said.
"Bapusa its not a big deal. You can tell Rudra how you feel. He will understand. He isn't the Jallad he was," she said. Bapusa shook his head, "No! I can't ask that of him. This place was hell for him and I was its keeper. I made too many mistakes when he was growing up." Paro thought for a minute if the orchatrators of her life ever felt that about her. Did Thakursa ever think how her life was shattered? Did Thakurainsa ever realise that her heart would bleed?
"Nobody has a perfect life. It's all about perspective. This haveli may have tormented him for years. But we also had so many happy moments to treasure here. He may have had a Maasa who abandoned him. But he still has a Bapusa who is standing strong by his side. Kakisa may dislike him, he also has Kakosa who adores him. He may not have the love of his brothers but I guarantee that bhabhisa is very affectionate to him. He just has to see the many blessings in his life and he will embrace them all," she said.
"You are the biggest one of all. You know when we first met, I felt you were the soothing rain that would calm that scortching desert called Rudra. But I never expected to feel its coolness myself. Thank you beta for mending what she broke," he said. She shook her head. He was her Bapusa. She was just being a good daughter. "Okay, but this Bapusa isn't going sing Loris. Now go to sleep. It's late," he said patting her head. She bade him good night and left the room.
"How did this happen," Rudra asked Aman. They had been so careful. Aman looked over the statements of the two constables who had left to the hospital. One of them had gone to the corner shop to buy cigarettes. There had been a crash and people were arguing. He had tried to sort it out. Things came to blows rather quickly and both of the ended up sorting things out. But when they turned back to the house, it just blew up. "Sir do you think it's Tejawat?" Aman asked.
Rudra narrowed his eyes. He didn't have to think. This had Tejawat written all over it. He had tried to kill Bindi the day before they raided the haveli. He had to kill Nandini just before the trial. He was playing dangerous games to keep himself safe. He didn't think twice before hurting innocent people. He walked up to the firemen, "When can we go in?" They replied that they couldn't give him clearance before their regulatory checks. "I don't have time for your protocols. A woman was in there," he screamed at them.
An older fireman took him aside, "Bannasa, I have been putting out fires for several years. If someone was inside, she wouldn't have survived. It's time to inform the family." Which family would he inform? The mother he had hidden away somewhere in Jaipur? The friend who was re-learning how to form sentences after her own trauma? Or the sister who would throw herself into this nightmare? Oh Paro! She was the only viable witness they had. He pulled his phone out to call her. "Damn it!" he shouted flinging it away. The instrument had no network when he needed it.
The door banged close. She was glad. It must be Rudra. She rushed to the aangan and he saw Samrat bhaisa holding a half drunk Sumer bhaisa. "Is Rudra late?" Samrat bhaisa asked. She nodded. "Shall I said Maithili?" he asked remembering her anxiety when her husband was away. "It's okay bhaisa. He will come home soon," she said. "I thought Rudra had a key," Sumer bhaisa slurred. They looked at him confused. He held his finger to his lip and tiptoed to the back door. Sure enough there was someone knocking from the other side.
Paro stepped up to open as Sumer bhaisa struggled to open. "Wait," Samrat bhaisa stopped them. "Who is it?" he called out. The knocking stopped. "This is Major Sequira from the BSD. I need to see Mrs. Parvati Ranavat," came a voice. Paro wondered why someone from the BSD was here this. "Saab, Please come to the front door," she asked. Samrat bhaisa nodded. That was a good idea. If it were a BSD personnel, the constables would check and let him in.
"No! That won't be possible. This is highly confidential. Mrs. Ranavat I can't wait to long" the officer replied. Sumer bhaisa slumped on the floor, "You know its funny. We are waiting for a stubborn camel and an angry bull appears." Samrat pulled out his phone to call the stubborn camel. "This number is out of coverage area." He looked at Paro. "I'm a desperate man Mrs. Ranavat. I will break the door if I have too," declared the officer turning her blood cold.
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
