23|Tejas Worrying For Sunaina

Sorry for no update yesterday. But instead, you get a double update today. (Update schedule- four times a week)

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HIS POV

Everybody was busy enjoying the moment once Bhaisa's marriage date was finalised. Samrit and I congratulated him as well.

He has been dreaming of this day since the day he met Bhabhi-sa last year. God alone knows how much effort he put into making her his wife. Ever since he reunited with Bhabhi-sa, he has been looking forward to spending his life together with her. I was very happy for him.

All this while, I was looking at her every now and then. She was clearly trying to avoid looking at me and I knew why. She looked happy. She was smiling her heart out for her sister, getting excited along with Jhanvi.

Looking at her I really wondered, how a person could look so happy for someone getting married, but not expect the same happiness for herself. I pondered over the thoughts, if she looked this happy about getting her sister married what would she be like the day she got married?

But only if the happiness in the room could last for a few more minutes.

"Yeh vivah nahi ho sakta hai jab tak Sunaina ki shaadi tay nahi ho jaati." her dadi-sa announced it to everyone.

(This marriage can not happen unless Sunaina's marriage is fixed.)

The room fell silent leaving everyone speechless. My jaw dropped hearing her put a condition on her own grandchild's marriage. No sooner Sarpanch ji spoke.

"Maa-sa what are you saying? Sunaina is younger than Radhika and we are still looking for a suitable boy." he tried to explain.

He said and I immediately looked at her. Dadisa's words struck her like a bolt of lightning. The colour had drained from her face. I wondered if she stopped breathing or what.

"Dadi-sa I can't hurry with her marriage and put it at risk. Let Radhika get married and we will patiently look for her groom as well." her brother said.

Before I could even process what was happening around she again spoke but only filthy words. Her words enraged me, making me tighten my fist.

"Sunaina is not your daughter, but my granddaughter. Her parents are dead. Who knows what will happen to her once Radhika is married to this rich family."

"Khaandan ka naam mitti me nai milana humko. Wahi hoga jo humne kaha hai wrna humara mara muh bhi nai naseeb hoga kisiko." She said and left angrily with a helper.

(I'm not letting you spoil the family's name. Do as I say or you will not even see my dead face.)

How could she hang that to everybody's neck and get things done her way? Should she not be caring more if they are all her children?

Also, it was inappropriate for her to speak in such a rude manner regarding her parents, that too in front of everyone. Her attitude was quite abrasive to be speaking like that about her own grandchild. Instead of asking Sunaina's choice and caring for her happiness, all she was worried about was her respect and responsibility.

This is not the way to make important decisions in the family.

I concernedly looked at her and found her gazing down, seemingly lifeless with moisture in her eyes that was ready to escape her eyes. I felt pain in my heart merely looking at her right now.

I cursed not being able to hold her hand, drag her away from here and hug her till she cried all her heart over my shoulders. It was painful to see her disheartened.

Bhabhisa hugged her trying to console her. Jhanvi patted her back and all three made their way to her room.

I sat there helplessly looking at her retreating figure, cursing myself for not being able to be with her when I knew she needed me the most.

With all my heart, at this moment I wanted to keep her safe in my arms murmuring soothing and loving words, promising her a life of comfort and security. But only if I could.

Sarpanch ji and her brother both tried their best to convince my parents that they'll try to persuade Dadi-sa.

Later Bhaisa, Samrit and I followed out on the lawn discussing the urgent project report that was to be delivered tomorrow. But my mind was all stuck on her.

It wasn't even night that I could climb up to her room, nor could I go to her right now as she wasn't alone.

The evening drifted by, and the night unfolded just as quietly. She did not come down even for dinner nor did I eat. I was still waiting for her to be alone so that I could meet her. But no luck. It was midnight and I was stalling in the verandah where everyone had already fallen asleep. I came out of my room a couple of hours ago, planning to sneak into her room but learnt Jhanvi and Bhabhi-sa were still present there.

But lingering here wasn't of any use either. I was getting impatient. I had to be with her right now. I couldn't help but wonder what she was going through. I felt the need to understand her situation.

I stood up from the chair and sneaked out of the door after checking around the house. I walked back to the garden, looked around and luckily found no one this late at night.

Following the path to her balcony through the pipe, I reached almost near the window but feared, about someone being in her room. This pipe had become the way to my second home. More than the stairs of this house I've been using it.

I halted right below the window. Suddenly I heard the sound of the door closing. Did someone leave or did someone enter the room? I waited a few more minutes before I could go further.

"Jhanvi," I heard her sleepy voice.

"Yes, it's me. Sunaina didi you need anything?" Jhanvi asked her.

(didi-sister)

"Umm... no actually I just wanted to sleep," she said.

Her voice seemed tired. God knows how much she cried to be tired of it.

"It's okay, you can sleep. I'll be sleeping here with you tonight. Let me know if you need anything." Jhanvi said.

What is wrong with her? Why does Jhanvi need to sleep with her? Why not leave her alone already after taking her all the time since morning?

It was getting difficult to be hanging here. I had to either go up or climb down now. My hands were getting slippery.

"Actually I'm feeling very tired.. I wanted to sleep alone tonight... if you don't mind," She replied in a sleepy voice.

Good choice baby!

"It's okay but if you need anything please let me know... okay?" Jhanvi said.

"Of Course thank you so much..." she replied and a few moments later I heard the door close again.

I felt a little relieved. Before I could climb up I heard her.

"Aap andar aa sakte hain," came her voice.

(You can come in)

With all my solidity I climbed up and saw her sitting on the bed with a blanket casually lying around. She was staring into me with a dull face. Even in the dim light I could see dried up tears.

"You've been crying a lot it seems," I said and jumped to sit on the bed facing her.

She looked at me with almost no emotions. I couldn't take my eyes off her right now.

"Does it matter?" She said.

"That's all that matters to me," I answered.

Soon the tears travelled back into her eyes and she tried hard to control them but couldn't.

She immediately crawled up to me and I opened my arms for her. I made her sit on my lap after she snaked my neck. Without wasting a moment she started sobbing. I rubbed her back keeping her close to me and kissed her head twice.

I wanted her to cry all she wanted. So that she doesn't dwell over Dadi-sa's nonsensical words ever again. She was crying a river while her sobs and hiccups were tearing me apart. I hugged her as tight as possible and patted the back of her head to calm her down.

Later on, when I felt she was slowing down after some time, I kept caressing her back to make her feel warm and safe. Not for a second did she loosen the hold of my collar at the back of my head.

She rested on my shoulders and I again gave a deep kiss on her head. She hiccuped a couple of times before she spoke.

"I want to go somewhere," she said in a low voice.

"Where tell me," I asked.

She slightly pulled back and looked into my eyes. I brought my fingers closer to her face and pushed away the hair strands behind her ear, lightly touching her face with my fingertips. She was staring into my eyes like a baby. I wiped her tears with my thumb and looked at her water-filled eyes.

"Tell me where do you want to go?" I asked.

"Would you come with me?" She asked softly.

"I'll follow you anywhere you want me to be with you. No exceptions," I said and kissed her forehead.

She closed her eyes with the touch and I stroked her pink cheek. She opened her eyes and lowered her head while wiping her cheek.

Quickly she got off my lap and then climbed down the bed. She corrected her clothes and looked at me with swollen eyes.

"Let's go," she said and I followed her to the door.

She opened the door and looked around before walking out. She held my palm firmly and walked down the staircase. I intertwined our fingers and held tight. We made sure to not make any noise while walking out of the door of the house.

"Where are we going?" I asked once we came out on the lawn.

It was all dark and silent here. I wondered where she wanted to go. But she didn't reply.

She marched with her steps to the passage between the two havelis. We walked down the passage and entered the guest Haveli. She stopped midway on the verandah and looked around. She tried to lose hold of our intertwined hands but I held tight and looked at her. She looked at me and then made us walk in the hallway around the corner.

The place was very dimly lit. Nothing was clear. The hallway led to an inside view of the haveli. I remember coming here when I visited here for the first time and spent a night in one of these rooms. It was a three-story building with rooms all around.

This haveli was quite similar to the previous one, with only small changes in the design. It was beautiful.

"Why are we here?" I asked hoping she would tell me something.

She looked at the Haveli and couldn't take her eyes off it.

"This is my home. I used to live here with my parents." She said.

I looked at her and instantly everything started making sense. Why she got so vulnerable today and why she wanted to visit this place tonight. She was missing everything. Her parents, her home, her childhood and her happiness. She would have wanted to visit them all tonight.

A couple of moments later she started to walk up the stairs and not for once did I ask her anything anymore. I wanted her to pour her heart out on her own. It was obvious that her heart was weighed down with emotions and unspoken thoughts.

We kept climbing the stairs hand in hand and reached the roof. The minute we came up to the roof, the view was surreal.

It was beautiful. Standing here I could see the entire village. Winds blew over our faces. All the light poles were light bright while there was complete silence in the village. I looked up at the sky only to find a glowy white almost full moon staring back at us. Unknowingly I tightened the hold on her hand feeling mesmerized.

A few minutes later she made us walk to the other side of the roof. I found a few old utensils and junk furniture lying in a corner. An old chair in good condition was lying idly near a chaarpai (wooden bed/couch).

We walked up to it and I sat on her right, still holding her palm in mine. She stared forward, showing no sign of emotion on her face. God knows what was going on inside this small head. I couldn't help but stare at her, staring at nothing in particular.

"I'm hating this," I said.

She turned slowly to look at me. Her eyes didn't have tears, instead, they seemed to be shining here. Her face looked a little confused.

"What is it that you hate?" she asked.

Her voice was so low, had I not been sitting this close to her, I could not have heard it.

"Yahi ki aap mujhse itna door hain," I answered.

She looked at me unbelievably. Her eyes had lost the charm that I built all these days.

"I'm sitting right next to you with our hands hugging each other... What more do you want?" she said.

I stared deeply at her, brought our intertwined palms over my thigh and caressed her hand with my other hand. She lowered her eyes to our hands and I chose to speak.

"Tan se nahi, Sunaina man se kareeb aaiye hamare," I said.

She stayed silent for a couple of seconds and then lowered her head. I knew she was hiding her pain, her tears, her past. But I wished to see everything.

"If I choose this life with you, I want all that you are. No exceptions. If I'm interested in you I'm interested in every detail about you and your life, make me feel at home Sunaina. Use me however you wish to." I said.

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