Yuvaani
Something flashy was exposed in front of me. I can experience it, with my eyes closed. I groaned and pulled the comforter over my head, turning to the opposite side.
What a lazy ass morning!
What? Morning? My eyes flared open out wide as I realized my thoughts! I peeked a little through the comforter, pulling it till my eye level, and my eyebrows scrunched involuntarily. The surrounding didn't feel familiar, but still felt much more familiar. I squinted my eyes, and looked around in daze, not wanting to accept where I am currently.
What am I sleeping in this room?
Have I lost my mind?
Let's get out fast, before he could know!
I pushed the comforter off me and I heard "You're up?"
"I-I- I'm sorry- I don't know what lead me here I-"
"Shh" He shushed me making himself comfortable beside me.
"Panicking early in the morning, huh?" I felt a glint of tease in his tone.
"I don't know-"
"Shant baba! I'm just messing with you a bit. Kal raat tum yahi so gayi thi, beside cribs so I made you comfortable here" he uttered as it was the most casual thing for him to say.
"I-I'm sorry" I apologized looking down at my laps.
"What for?" he asked.
"For staying here, and not going to bed on time. For sleeping in this room" I stated my reasons for looking at my lap, as it's the most interesting thing in this room.
He left out a small sigh and added "There's nothing to be sorry about. And about you sleeping here, you shouldn't be sorry about that. In Fact, you should sleep here. Not in that room"
"What?" my head snapped at him.
"Yeah" he said a bit nervously.
Am I making him nervous?
"If you're saying this because you're empathetic of whatever happened yesterday- I'm not that dumb to harm myself, Aarush. That too just because I lost money"
"It's not because I'm empathetic, Yuvaani. And I know you're a strong woman who wouldn't take such drastic steps because of a small thing. I know, it is just money. It's just a thing. You've already proved yourself that you're capable enough to earn money. I'm saying this because I was a jerk to you before. I haven't considered your feelings. I almost forgot that you too are a human like me. I'm sorry. But, now that I've realized, I just wanted to rectify my mistakes. Will you move in here with me?"
And I could bet this was my best morning after marriage so far. It felt like I'm not gonna see this day so soon but- God showed this day to me. My eyes felt watery as I knew how his words affected me, in a good way.
"What if you regret it later?"
"I didn't regret last night when you were here," he said.
It felt like he's pronouncing his words with so much care, that it would hurt a delicate baby! I really am having a hard time believing it, that it was all for me.
"Will you?" he asked again.
In reply I just matched my gaze with him, and stared into his naturally deep coffee brown eyes. They held a meaning, something deep, something pure which I haven't seen in any pair of eyes I look into. His gaze just kind of questioning me, mirroring his words.
I just nodded at his question and he smiled. I didn't notice it before but he was in his formals, all fit for the office, I guess. Giving me that warm smile he retired to the vanity table styling his messy hair and I couldn't just help but follow my gaze on his every movement. I never did this before. Maybe his apology made me do that?
Wait. I am in bed. And he is getting ready for office.
FUCK! I AM LATE!!!
I hurriedly went to cribs but I heard the voice "Papa took them in garden downstairs"
"Okay" I replied and sighed in relief. Till he got completely ready, I was done with my morning routine and yeah, I was late for making breakfast too!
I rushed towards the kitchen but there I saw the breakfast was already served hot. "Morning beta" Maa wished me. And I saw him leaving for the office.
"Morning maa, I'm sorry- I just woke up late today!"
"Koi baat nahi vaani beta, Waise bhi, I made to make breakfast today, have it, it's on table" she addressed and I took my plate and had a bite. I kid you not, she makes the most amazing breakfast in this house! Followed by a little chit chat we were headed to make lunch for us. We got done with it soon as Maa helped me.
The kids were back long back, so I took them for a bath.
"Nahai nahai" Pihu chirped as she came in my arms while we were heading to the bathroom.
"Yes baby!" I chirped, resonating her energy and placed her into the bucket. The babies sang the tunes of rhymes which Aarush recited during night time, danced, played in water and trust me, it gave immense joy to see them this way.
Later they had a bath, I breastfed them and sang them to sleep.
I called Sanskar to know about his whereabouts, as he got discharged this morning and he went to his home. We spoke about random stuff and we ended the call. When I randomly checked on babies, they were sleeping peacefully but Pihu startled in sleep due to the notification of my phone. I patted her slowly and put my phone on silent mode.
Looking onto the notification my heart raced a million miles, making me furrow my brows.
Received Rs. 1,00,000.00 in your xyz Bank AC X0987
from aarushnair@(bankname) on (date).
Ref id .....
1 Lakh credited to my account!?
I rapidly dialed Aarush.
"Hello" I heard his muffled voice.
Was he having lunch?
Sounds like he'd stuffed food in his mouth and talked, like kids.
"Why did you do that?" I asked.
"Do what?" He asked innocently, and I heard a few sniffing noises.
Damn, this man!
"One lakh rupees, Aarush?!"
And there was a brief pause!
"Hm, sorry I was drinking water. Yeah what were you saying?"
"Why did you transfer this much money to my account?"
"Don't you need money for daily expenses?"
"I don't need anything currently." I said curtly. I didn't want his hard earned money which he was just giving me like he's buying me candy.
"Keep it Yuvaani, you'll need it." I hear him say.
"Aarush-"
"Vaani, I know you need it. And I know this too that you won't ever ask me yourself. As a husband, I'm giving it to you. Keep it"
"No-"
"For God's sake! It's your money too! You're my wife. It's our money"
With that he shut me up and cut the call. He knew I would refuse. Sometimes, I don't understand him. He does good, but won't accept it. He'll just say it was mine thing and he just gave it to me. May it be knowingly or unknowingly, I liked this side of Aarush a bit more than obvious. I liked the way he takes care of things before I can even think of it. You are a good man, Aarush. An unknown smile spreaded over my lips thinking about him. I never thought I could experience these things too, in marriage. No doubt he's a supporting partner. It's just that the events in the past triggered that in him and he reacted the way he wasn't supposed to.
But I feel, if I lost my love of life and I had two babies and I was still in love with my ex-spouse, who left this world life five months ago and I was forced to marry a guy, and my parents giving my late husband's belongings to the guy I recently got married, for sure I would've flared up! It's the very first thing in me that I would protect his belongings and won't let anyone touch it.
My heart gripped with a little guilt thinking about this. I can now never imagine myself with someone else. Knowingly or unknowingly, Aarush had treated me with the utmost respect he could. He handled the situations better than me if I were at his place. Somewhere or the other he makes me feel safe and secure. He made sure I was not alone yesterday. He didn't leave my side yesterday unless it was important for him to go to the office yesterday. He's a hardworking man. Who thinks of his family before he thinks of himself.
What is all this, Aarush? You are a nice man and no wonder I won't be not proud of having you as my husband. It's just a deep lane going with you. I've imagined my future with you. I see my future with you. I know you can't love me, but I'm not sure about myself. I had already- no! I won't ever tell you this. It would just complicate the things between us. And as I saw the good side in you, I don't want to go to that Aarush who yelled at me. I don't want to mess things up now when they've changed for the better. I like you this way. The way you are now. The way you are good to me.
I heard a sudden crying voice and I quickly got up and moved towards the crib. Pihu was crying and I gently picked her up. Patting her back and hugging her and she snuggled to me even more. I loved this feeling, honestly. Her tiny hands just encircled around my neck digging her face into the crook of my neck. "My baby woke up, hm?" I said in a baby voice and she raised her head looking at me.
My god! What beautiful features she has! Especially her eyes, she got it from Priya. I think she'll be the exact copy of her beautiful mother.
"Mumma"she muttered and my heart felt like it was bouncing. I loved when she or Ansh called me that. It fulfilled my dream. I always wanted a daughter and a son, and see! By god's grace I have them both.
"Yes betu"
"Mum-mum" she said putting her right thumb in her baby mouth. And the very next second we were in the kitchen and she was drinking water from my hands, cuddling even more to me. I loved her for this. She accepted me, she trusts me. I've read somewhere that babies usually stay with people they feel comfortable with. They can sense who's right and who isn't.
"Vaani, have lunch. When are you gonna have it? Last night also you didn't"
"Yes, maa." saying that I took my lunch with one hand as Pihu was in my other. We settled down and she was looking at the meal. I simply put dal over rice and mixed it and gave it to her. She had it without any tantrums today, woah! The next was she herself tried to reach out the rice on my plate, which I tried to hold her hand but, what's stronger and faster than a baby's grip?
She took it and stuffed it all in her mouth, covering her cheeks too with dal and rice.
My independent baby!
"Give her to me, you have your lunch peacefully" Maa said to which I denied politely. These are the only moments which once are gone. I want to live them to the fullest. Maa nodded and took a chair next to me.
"So, what have you decided?"
"About?" I had no idea what she was talking about.
"Their birthday" she said, gesturing towards Pihu.
"Their birthday is on the way?" I felt shocked, I never knew! I wanted it to be their best one, for sure.
"Yeah, next Wednesday" Maa replied
"Five days later!?" again a shock!
And we both were submerged in the planning of their first birthday!
Later on in the evening Papa called me and I obediently made my way to him. He asked me to sit and I did. He politely offered me some of the cash which I was shocked to see why.
"Beta, you've lost so much yesterday so please keep this with you. It might help you in future"
"But, Papa- there's no need- I mean- I can't take this!"
"Why? You aren't my daughter?" He asked and I kneeled down near his feet, holding his hands.
"It's not that, Papa. I mean- these efforts are- the fact that you thought about me is enough for me, Papa. I don't need money"
"But, what about your needs? You know na, in these situations getting money back is next to impossible"
I nodded.
"But, Aarush himself gave me money. And it's really more than enough for me. Honestly. I don't need this" I pushed his hand to himself gently denying it.
"He did?"
"Yes"
"Okay" he kept hand over my head adding "If you ever need anything, feel free to ask me or anyone. Okay?" He asked, to which I smiled heartedly.
What did I do to get such a good family? I was almost in tears seeing their efforts and the fact that they thought of me before I ever could.
In the late evening, the dinner was a silent affair and everyone retired to their rooms.
"How was your day?" he asked, settling his duvet on bed.
"Good" I smiled. "And yours?" I asked him back
"Not bad, it was okay-ish" I heard him sitting on bed over a corner diagonally opposite to him. The kids had been sleeping and we were having conversation in low pitch in order not to wake them up.
"You didn't have to waste such a tremendous amount of money on me" I said, bringing up the matter which took place at noon. I had an internal debate to really sleep with him? On the same bed?
"I ain't wasting. And it's my duty to look over us. You, kids, parents" he made it obvious. And I heard him patiently.
"It's too much-" I said but he interrupted me.
"I'm just giving it to my wife. Because she needs to have it. I can't keep her utterly blank with zero amount! And it's merely a thing Vaani, you shouldn't make an issue out of it"
"I'm not creating an issue! It's that someone has gave me- for the very first time- I freaking don't know what to say and how to say"
"See. Your brain is giving clear indications that you need rest. Sleep" He said.
I simply got up and merely took a step and I heard his whisper-yelled voice "Where are you going?"
"To sleep?"
"You're sleeping here, don't you?"
And I was blank again. Assure me one more time, Aarush. I'll be here forever!
"We had this conversation in the morning, if you remember," he said, spitting the matter of facts. I hate it when he says factual information and I'm left with nothing to say, yet I just want to oppose him, for fun.
"You sure?" I asked again
"I think I've to create a signboard for you in this room, so that you could read it everyday, saying that Yes, you should sleep here"
I just giggled.
"Yeah, we can do that" I commented
"For now we don't have one, but I'm saying now. Sleep here. This room is yours as well as mine. It's ours"
Ours.
"Okay" I felt cheeky as I felt my ears burning a little. Am I turning red?
"Now, sleep"
And I took my feet on the bed adjusting on my side opposite to him. Switching off the table lamp, I was gazing at the ceiling as it was visible due to the moonlight radiating from the balcony.
Thank you, God.
Keep it like this please, forever.
"Good night" I wished him for the very first time maybe
"Night" he replied, and I smiled to sleep.
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HEY GUYSS!!!â¤ï¸
I hope you're doing good! So here it is, last chapter of this year 2023. Thank you for immense love you showered upon me, this book, the characters everything. I'm really grateful for that. I had never imagine this book getting so much love and supportive readers when it just got published. Thank you. You people were also one of the best part of my 2023. I hope the next year 2024, brings double joy and dhamaka in your lives! Keep rocking, keep loving! Just a bit efforts from my side to make your 31st December 2023 remarkable with this chapter. Hoped you've liked it. See you in next year then <3!