Hello everyone,
Don't ask me why but I am on a roll! I think the realization that the show will soon be over and there are a lot many more scenes and scenarios we may never be able to see has kick started by creative brain cells. Anyways, this mini drabble is set way in the future after Aru has a successfully running business and is on her way to achieve her dreams.
As always, do let me know how you like it/hate it.
Cheers,
Neet
||ArMu Drabble - The Gift||
She walked into the room and tossed her bag onto the sofa. She headed straight to the mirror and took a long hard look at herself. She turned one way and the other and kept looking at her reflection. She leaned in and looked at her face carefully. And then, slowly, nervously, hesitantly, she placed a gentle hand over her abdomen and closed her eyes.
"Arey Mukhiyani! Yeh baal maine dhoop mein safed nahi kiye. Chaal aur chehera dekhkar jaan jaathi hoon ki kaunsa mahina chal raha hai! Aur tere chehere ki raunak tho saaf saaf batha rahi hai ki Mukhi ke aangan mein jald hi kilkaariyaan goonjne waali hain," Hansa Ben had said earlier that morning at the temple, warding off evil eyes. Aru had felt as if a thousand butterflies are gathered in her belly all of a sudden. And while she trusted the older woman's wiseness, she had wanted to be doubly sure before she broke the news to Mukhiji. So she'd requested Hansa Ben to keep this to herself and she'd sneakily picked up a pregnancy test from the dispensary on the pretext of meeting Saanvi. And the test had come out positive.
Opening her eyes, she let out a squeal of delight. Within her, she was carrying a life that Mukhiji and she had created, borne from their love. The feeling was absolutely overwhelming and she couldn't wait to share the news with Mukhiji. But how would she tell him? She bit her lower lip as she pondered how to let him know that he was going to be a father.
Just then, the man in question walked into the room. "Arey Mukhiyani! Aaj kaarkhaane se jaldi waapas as gayi?" He asked, smiling fondly at her. "Haan wo..," was the only response she could come up with. He stopped where he was stacking up the files he had in hand and looked at her. She looked a little pale and she had her hand on her belly. "Oh, main samajh gaya. Main Sarabi ko bolke tere liye garam paani ka bag bhijvaatha hoon," he said turning away. "Nahi tho reva de. Main khud hi leke aatha hoon. Aur saath mein tere liye methi daalke ubaalke peene ka paani bhi laatha hoon. Usse peene se teri takleef thodi kam hogi. Tu bes na. Aaram kar tab thak. Main abhi aaya."
Aru slapped a hand to her forehead as she realized that he thought it was her time of the month. "Nahi Mukhiji! Mujhe unn sab cheezon ki koi zaroorath nahi," she said. "Ab tho unki zaroorath padegi bhi nahi," she added shyly, hoping he'd get the clue. He looked puzzled for a second before he said, "dekha! Methi paani ka kamaal? Ab tujhe kabhi bhi takleef nahi hogi!" This man and his methi paani! She thought, slapping a hand to her forehead again. It's okay, Aru, she told herself, try again.
"Mukhiji! Kachche aam milenge? Khatta khaane ka mann kar raha hai," she said. "Kai pan bole che! Iss mausam mein aam kahan se milenge?" He responded as he went back to stacking up his files. Frustrated, she went up to him and yanked him by his shoulder to turn him around. "Kab se aapko kuch bathane ki koshish kar rahi hoon, aur aap hain ki kuch samajh hi nahi rahe!" She said angrily. He looked at her confused. "Shaadi shuda auraton ko khatta khaane ka man kab kartha hai?" She asked him. Before he could respond though, she took the files from his hand and dumped them on the table nearby. Then she took his hand and placed it on her belly.
He stayed confused for a few seconds more before the realization sunk in as to what she was trying to say. The lines of confusion marring his forehead cleared out and his eyes widened in response.
To say he was bewildered was an understatement! Was she, was she trying to say that she was.. she was pregnant? His heart began to race in his chest as the realization set in. He caressed her belly before looking at her in a silent question. She nodded her response and he felt his heart burst with joy! They.. they had created a life together. A life that was part her and part him. Right now, in her womb, a tiny heart was beating that belonged to their child. Their child! He felt his whole world spin. How was it that this one woman had single handedly brought him so much love and happiness in life? His eyes filled with tears as he cupped her face in the palms of his hands. And then he pulled her into a hug. Even as he hugged her tight, he immediately pulled away. "Maaf karna. Main itna khush tha ki dhyaan hi nahi raha. Tujhe takleef hogi ne?" Before she could say no, he caught hold of her and sat her down on the sofa, "tu bes! Aur wahin baithi reh. Bilkul hilna nahi. Ab se tu bas aaram karegi. Aur haan, tere khaane peene ki saari zimmedaari meri! Aur ab se, jab tu soyegi tho tere har taraf thakiye rakhenge thaaki tug ira na! Aur haan roz subah aur shyam ek ek glass doodh bhi peena padega! Koi bahana nahi."
Aru laughed happily and hugged him. "Tu khush tho hai na?" He finally asked her the question foremost on his mind. She pulled away from the hug and looked into his eyes. "Main bahut khush hoon Mukhiji. Ab tho bas mujhe apne nanhe Mukhiji ka intezaar hai," she said, twirling his moustache upward. "Aur aap? Aap khush hain na?" She asked him. "Khush? Main tho itna khush hoon, itna khush hoon ki.. yakeen hi nahi ho raha. Aisa lag raha hai main koi bahut khoobsurat se sapne mein jee raha hoon," he replied. She took his hand and placed it on her belly again, "yeh sapna nahi sachayi hai, Mukhiji." He felt overwhelmed, he felt blessed, he felt so many different emotions he couldn't name and he broke down in tears. She immediately gathered him close and held him to her. He quickly wiped away the tears and placed his hand on her belly, "Meri choti Mukhiyani." "Na, chotu sa Mukhi," she replied.
"Jo bhi hoga, hamara hoga," he said caressing her belly softly. Then he placed a tender kiss on her forehead, "samajh mein nahi aa raha ki tera shukriya kaise ada karoon." "Tho math kijiye," she said, leaning into his embrace, both their hands resting on her belly.
***
Fan Fictions
Anupamaa
