Intro, Page 1
Part 1, Page 5
Part 2, Page 7
Part 3, Page 10
Part 4, Page 12
Part 5, Page 13
Part 6, Page 15
Part 7, Page 18
MBC Part 8
I'm on the sofa... he's on the sofa. Hold on, let
me get this straight, I'm on the sofa... he's on the sofa!! Oh my
lord! Immediately, I push the blanket away and stand up... yes, on the sofa...
bed... sofa-bed, hmmm how did that happen? Khair. He stirs. And turns
to a side slowly... and goes back to sleep. What. I swear, he's one of
those that could sleep through anything, anything! Why isn't he
reacting? I just pushed aside the covers, and stood up where he is sleeping. How
dare he ignore me! "Aham..." Ok, lame attempt at coughing
Maithali. Louder. "Ahem... ahem..." Alright, this is the
limit! First of all, he's in my bed and ignoring me. Oh the nerve I
tell ya! Khasma nu khana... Bahut neend ah rahi hai na, abhi dikhaati hoon,
pati dev (Khasma nu khana- Punjabi playful gaali- ' Really sleepy are we, I'll
show you dear husband).
Getting off the sofa, I walk speedily, but quietly around
what is supposed to be my "actual bed" towards the side table. Aha!
Catching hold of the jug, I walk back towards my so-called husband and empty
out the clear contents. Immediately, he turns... almost jumping up. Now
that's a reaction, I thought with a triumphant smile on my face. Ye
toh kuch bhi nahin Vik... Fitteh muh, yaar iska naam kya hai, main humesha
bhool jaati hoon. Aaah, chodh (This is
nothing Vik' Dammit, dude what is his name again, I always forget. Meh, forget
it).
I stare at him with hardness, all the anger I can muster
without giving into the laughter tickling my lips that is. His soaked features'
Ah, that must be a nice awakening eh dear hubby? I can feel the laughter
bubbles stand at the verge of my throat, readying to explode. But then, I'm not
given the chance as I feel a forceful tug on my arm' And before I know what's
going on, I feel wetness tingle my face' my neck' What! I stare at him
dumbfounded, while the idiot does what he's best at (ahem, any need to explain
what that is now?' damn that grin!).
"A very good morning to you too biwi. Aur aapki information
ke liye, you had some great nightmare last night' joh mere paas aane se gayab
hogaya" (' night' which disappeared with me coming next to you) Curved corner
of the lip' that is all I see on his face, and blotches of embarrassment fill
my cheeks.
Great, what else did he expect? How can anyone have good
dreams when they have a notorious Bandar in the room as a husband! Good
morning? Is he out of his mind?! Ugh, how can I have a good morning when I'm
brushed with water and laying on his wet chest? Hey, what was that'
laying on him?! Immediately, I pull myself away as he adjusts his arms
comfortably underneath his head. Amusement etched across his face. My hands go
to my hips as the bubbles of laughter in my throat change into frustration.
Opening my mouth, I attempt to say something, but as usual something else
happens' The knock on the door beat me to it.
"Maithali' Adi' beta uth gaye kya? Nashta lagne waala hai,
neeche ajao jaldi" (Maithali' Adi' are you up yet? Breakfast is almost ready,
come down fast). Suddenly, I want to scream' but then I hold it back realizing
my voice dumb down as he gets up, throwing the covers to a side. I watch
him like an idiot as he walks to my side' his lips hovering against my right
ear'
"I'd love to talk more sweetheart, magar iske liye toh abhi bahut
waqt pada hai na' biwi." (I'd love to talk more sweetheart, but we have
an abundance of time for that now don't we' biwi ' wifey) Jitters.
Downstairs, I realize that my "early rise" program just
needs a few adjustments' well, maybe two hours worth (not that much right?).
Everyone is already sitting at the dining table, smiles and welcomes.
"Good morning bhabhi!' Lagta hai morning waqai aaj bahut
good hai, tabhi toh'" Jerked into the momentum of things, I realize I'm the bhabhi
being spoken to and its Tannu, trying to gather my attention. Uncertain
as to what to do, I give an awkward smile and breathe a silent thanks to Prerna
Maa as she throws a strict glare towards my sister-in-law.
"Oh come on Dadi' Bhai, aap bataye na, isn't it a good
morning?" My eyes secretly follow him as he plants a hurried kiss on his
sister's head before filling the empty seat next to her. "Of course Tannu,
morning bahut achi hai' But don't you think it would be even better, agar kuch
pastries ho jaateen?" Silence ensues as everyone ponders over this new idea,
which ultimately sounds like a good one. "Mmmm' what an awesome idea bhai!
Lekin uske liye market jana padega' Hey bhabhi! Aaj toh aapko waise bhi sab ke
liye kuch meetah banana hai, toh kyun na pastries? Please!" (' Hey bhabhi! You
have to make something sweet today anyways, so why not some pastries? Please!)
Ok, pause on the service. Pastries? Me? When was the last time you baked
Maithali' oh god, I can't remember! "Chodh na Tannu, Maithali ko pastries
banani nahin aati, kyun taqleef de rahi ho usse? Main mangwa leta'" (Forget it
Tannu, Maithali doesn't know how to make pastries, why make her go out of her
way? I'll just')
"Aati hai'" The words spill out of my lips with such hurried
defiance I don't even realize it' until everyone looks at me with startled
eyes. I can feel the colour rush to my cheeks, lord why doesn't the earth
just open up right now?! Lowering my gaze to the dishes I was handing out,
I continued with a softer tone, "Mera matlab, main banadoongi Tannu, don't
worry'" Talking to Tannu, my eyes fixated a murderous glare at him, who
seemed to think it quite amusing.
(End Flashback)
So here I am, fretting over some pathetic pastries, while my
hair won't allow me to see anything, ugh! Sometimes, I just wish I
were bald' Frustrated, I use the back of my hand to push away the errant
strands falling over my left cheek. "Samajhta kya hai? Mujhe kuch pastries
nahin banani aati? Pssh, I'll show him!" (What does he think? I don't know how
to make a few pastries? Pssh, I'll show him!) Aha, finally, the dough is
done! I smile victoriously as I roll the separate pieces out for filling.
"You sure, tumhe koi madat toh nahin chahiye?" (You sure,
you don't need any help?) He's still here?! Dude, isse koi kaam nahin kya?
Turning around, I breathed fire onto him through my eyes. I just love how he's
standing against the doorframe, one arm across his chest, the other helping him
devour an oh-so-deliciously-red-looking apple' not. I watch without
amusement as the last of the apple is tossed into the garbage can, as he
wipes his hands together, while walking towards me. Help? From
you?'Rab ji!
Turning back to the filling, I refused to allow him burst my
bubble. "Nahin, main karloongi, thanks." Get a hint, ahem. Strawberry
filling, mmm'You are so good Maithali!
"No problem," I hear the voice from my right side now where
my "husband" has taken a curious position atop the counter' a perfect view.
From the corner of my eye, I can see something red fill the air' Turning now, I
see that is another apple, likely from the bowl towering with fruit of
different colours' Why apple? Dropping the thought, I throw him an
arched-brow look. "Koi kaam nahin hai kya?" (Don't you have any work?).
As I put the final touches on my work of excellence I am
discreetly aware of the pair of eyes following my every move. I can almost feel
the crisp texture of the apple as he bites into it. Suddenly, I feel a strange
craving' for the apple. It's completely absurd, and I have no idea why' but
then "absurd" just doesn't begin to explain things around here' "No, actually
main Sundays ki chutti leta hoon" (No, actually I take Sundays off). Absurd,
talk about absurd! I mean, what are you going to do around the house, khasma nu
khana.
"Kyun, koi problem hai kya?" A smile spreads across
my face as I turn to cleaning the countertop. "Nahin toh, aapke hote mujhe hai
problem ho sakti hai?" (No, how can there be a problem in my life with you). I
hope he caught the sarcasm in my voice' I mean he has to be a complete dimwit
not to right? But then, no questions in that department! *Big smile*
I clean, he watches' The dull ticking of the clock pulsates
in the backdrop and I am starting to feel tingly. Suddenly, I hear his feet
land on the ground' and they begin to approach me. Thunder seems to begin
within my ribcage' a strange new feeling I've seemingly picked up from this
weird place. Rab ji, I need a rescue! Ok, so why is he standing right
next to me? And does it have to be that close? Taking a step back, I
finish cleaning and turn to face him.
I see now, that the apple in his hand is still being
devoured, but with little subtle interest. Am I supposed to say something?
Instead, I raise my eyebrow.
"To answer your question sweetheart, mujhe maloom hai ke
tumhe pastries banani aati hain'" (To answer your question sweetheart, I know
you know how to make pastries) Sweetheart, again? You have not seen no
"sweet" yet honey! And why do you have to stand so damn close' uff. Ok,
step back. Why is he pointing to the side of his lip? I swear, he can't get
any stranger' but then he tends to keep a habit of proving me wrong! And
why are you moving close to me again? But before I can think to move back, I
feel a tingle at the very corner of my lip. It takes a few seconds before I
realize how close he had just come'
"Main toh sirf itna dekhna chahta tah, ke kitni achi
banati ho'" (I just wanted to see how good) he smacked his lips, tongue rolling
over the top lip. "Mmm'not bad biwi' not bad at all" he states while sticking
one finger into the bowl of left over mixture, with the other still hanging on
to the apple. As I watch him head for the exit, my numbed existence seems to
revitalize as my left hand reaches for the imprint of his lips. And then it
clicks in' dough' filling' hair' cheek' lips'lips! Of course, as my
thinking process just begins to click through, I feel a tug at my throat
forcing me to turn to the side.
Is this real? I mean this has to be a t.v. serial or something! My dupatta,
his watch. He seems to be surprised to though' and pauses on the apple,
staring at it with contemplation. Finally arriving at a decision, he walks to
the counter, my dupatta still clinging to his wrist, and sets the
half-eaten apple there' before wiping bits of white stuff from his mouth', with my dupatta! What!
How dare he'
"Not bad' not bad at all' biwi" and with that he's
gone. Just like that. And I'm still standing here like a dummy! Of
course' I seriously think this place has had a dangerous affect on my mind,
already. Hai Rabba, you've got to do something! As I seethe, holding
stupidly to my dupatta, my eyes wander to the apple' half apple. In a
fit, I go towards it, holding it in my hands as if I have achieved some great
victory' and then taking a huge bite.
** Sorry for the delay everyone and any mistakes! (There are probably a ton)
Cheers,
dc
Edited by desi chic - 15 years ago
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