6| Inayaat

🪷 Meri hasi tujhse, meri khushi tujhse,

Tujhe khabar kya bekadar 🪷

"Harleen?" Ranbir called for his wife in his husky morning voice. He kept a hand on his right side in an attempt to hold her but was met with the cold comforter. Her feminine floral smell was still lingering around him and he involuntarily took a deep breath, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Harleen?!" He once again called for her in a louder voice now.

"Ji?" Harleen answered from the walk-in closet.

Yes?

Ranbir rubbed his eyes and sat on the bed. He stretched his neck a bit and patiently waited for his wife to walk out. Harleen finished getting dressed and walked out to see Ranbir waiting for her. As soon as their eyes met, he gestured her to come closer.

She stood right in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her stomach. She raked her fingers in his hair, lightly massaging his scalp. He let out a satisfactory groan.

"Aap bula rahe the?" She asked him after a peaceful moment passed.

You were asking for me?

"Tum utho tab mujhe bhi utha diya karo. Subhe sabse pehle tumhe dekhna accha lagta hai mujhe." He said as he now got up from the bed.

When you get up, wake me up as well. I like to see you first thing in the morning.

Harleen blushed crimson at her husband's sentence. She kept both her hands on his chest but looked away from his eyes shyly. He bent down a bit and placed a soft kiss on her red cheeks. She still blushed around him like a newly wedded bride.

"Dekho toh. Tum aaj bhi sharmati ho jaise hamari nayi nayi shadi hui ho." Ranbir teasingly remarked as he caressed her red cheeks.

Look at you. You still blush around me as if we are newly married.

"Ek tarha se abhi abhi hi shadi hui hai. 8 mahine hi to hue hai bas." Harleen debated as she again kept a hand on his chest.

In a way that's true. It's just been 8 months.

It was their thing. He loved having his arms around her waist and she loved keeping hers on his chest.

"Acchaa? Waise tumhe choti baatein zyada yaad nahi rehti par ye acche se yaad hai." Ranbir teasingly said.

Oh? You don't generally remember small details but this you recall clearly.

They were completely opposite in this area. She tends to forget small things like birthdays, dates and things in general while him on the other hand was used to remembering even the smallest of things. He'll remember things about her in such detail, it astounds her. He'll remember such insignificant things concerning her, she wonders how is it humanly possible to do that.

"Aapse judi koi bhi baat mere liye choti nahi hai. Hamare rishte ki har ek baat mere dil par naksh hai." Harleen shyly said as she avoided their eye contact. If it was possible, she blushed even more at this confession of hers.

Nothing related to you is small for me. Every single detail of our relationship is engraved on my heart.

"Haaye.. mujhe kisi din marhi dogi tum." Ranbir said with a wide smile. He kept a hand on his heart and gave a dreamy look to his wife.

Ohh my... you're gonna be the death of me one day.

"Kitni baar aapko mana kiya hai ke aisi baatein nahi karte." Harleen said as she lightly slapped his arm and gave him a disappointed look.

How many times have I asked you not to say such things.

"Accha theek hai, nahi bolunga." Ranbir said with a chuckle.

Okay fine, I won't.

"Waise maine koi bahot hi acche karam kiye honge pichle janam mai, jo mujhe tum mil gayi ho." Ranbir said as he cupped her face and caressed her cheek lovingly.

Well, I must have done some good deeds in my past life, that I have got you in this one.

"Ye to mera khayal hai. Aap meri kismat mai likhe the, ye mere rab ki meher hai." She said as she gave him a heart felt smile.

This is my thought. You've been written in my destiny, it is the grace of God.

"Ek baat par yaaken ho gaya hai, jo hota hai acche ke liye hota hai." Ranbir said as he pulled his wife in for a hug.

I've started to trust on the saying, whatever happens, happens for the good.

"Beshak." She replied, burring her head in the hallow of his chest.

Absolutely.

"Accha chaliye taiyaar ho jaiye. Office jana hai aaj apne." She said pulling away, as she kept a hand on his bicep.

Ok now come on, get ready. You have to go to the office today.

"Jaisa aapka hukum biwi." He said with a smile and walked towards the bathroom.

Whatever you say, wifey.

Harleen chuckled to herself as she walked to their walk-in closet and took out Ranbir's clothes for him. She picked a gorgeous dark blue kurta with matching coloured pants. She laid the kurta out on the nearby ottoman and picked a silver watch to go with it. She even took out his favourite pair of sunglasses and a pair of brown formal shoes.

After giving herself a satisfied smile at her choice, she walked out of the room and descended downstairs.

She joined her mother-in-law in the kitchen. Both of them started helping the cook to prepare their breakfast. Once done, they took the food outside. Harleen called for the other three members of the family and started serving food in their plates.

Ranbir's father and Ishani shortly joined them on the table. A servant brought in a tray with a teapot and their cups. Harleen took the tray from her and kept it on the table. She placed three cups on the table and poured some tea in them. She handed them their respective cups and herself took her seat.

She hadn't started eating yet since she was waiting for her husband. Shortly, she heard his footsteps as he walked into the dinning area.

She didn't blink for a moment upon seeing her husband. He was looking devastatingly handsome in her choice of kurta. The colour complimented his skin tone and enhanced the brown hue in his eyes. The kurta was a proper fit on his muscular body and it enhanced his biceps further. He had kept the upper two buttons undone and his silver chains were peaking through them. God her husband was handsome.

He took his seat, next to his wife and greeted everyone. She served him his breakfast and then took some food in her plate as well.

"Bhabhi aapne kal diya hua assignment kar liya?" Ishani questioned Harleen.

Sister-in-law, are you done with the assignment given to us yesterday?

"Haa, wo to kal hi kar liya tha." Harleen replied with a smile.

Yeah, I did it yesterday itself.

"Okay good. Mera bhi ho gaya hai. Aaj naya topic shuru kar sakte hai hum." Ishani replied.

I am done with it too. We may start a new topic today.

Considering how Harleen wanted to complete her education, Ranbir asked her to take classes along with Ishani. They had appointed a private tutor for her and since Harleen wanted to learn the same thing, they now get tutored by the same man. Both the girls are quite smart and have been having a good time learning what they like.

Harleen was filled with ecstasy when Ranbir suggested this to her one night. She remembered sharing her story and her desires with him on the earlier months of their marriage. Never did she expect him to remember or do things for her but she was pleasantly surprised.

Ranbir really is all that she had been praying for, for all her life. He was truly a blessing from her God.

.

.

.

And it's done. Harleen thought to herself as she gift wrapped her present for Ranbir's upcoming birthday.

She has noticed how he loves branded watches and so she decided it should be her gift to him. She gets a certain sum of money from Ranbir every month for her personal expenses and since she doesn't have any extravagant expenses, she was successful in saving enough to buy him an expensive watch. It was a big silver dial watch which was in-style with his previous ones but not repetitive. She even got a black shiny gift wrapping paper since he loves the colour black.

"Bhabhi? Jaldi aayein, papa bula rahein hai." Ishani said as she barged inside the couple's room.

Sister-in-law? Come fast. Dad is calling for you.

"Kya hua, Ishani? Sab theek? Itni gabhrai hui kyu ho?" Harleen asked as she kept the box aside and went towards where she was standing, the entrance of their room.

What happened, Ishani? All okay? Why are you so agitated?

"Amar bhaiya ka call aya tha. Papa bahot tension mai hai. Isse zyada to mujhe bhi nahi malum." She said as she left the room with Harleen following behind.

Amar bhaiya called. Dad is very tensed. I don't know more than this.

Amar was Ranbir's bodyguard. He was with him at all times when he leaves the premises of the Haveli.

Both the girls hurriedly ran downstairs. They entered the family seating room to notice Ranbir's parents there. His dad was sitting on the sofa with a tensed expression while talking to someone on the phone. His mother on the other hand was pacing the area with a constant chant of prayer on her lips.

"Maa, kya hua?" Harleen asked as she approached her mother-in-law.

Mom, what happened?

"Harleen beta, woh..." She started but glanced at her husband as if asking for permission to speak ahead.

Harleen dear, uhh..

"Woh kya maa?" She repeated her question.

What happened, mom?

"Ranbir par humla hua tha karib 1 ghante pehle. Use sine mei goli lagi hai." Harleen heard her father-in-law say as he disconnected the call and got up from his seat.

Ranbir was attacked. He has been shot in the chest.

"Kya?!" Harleen couldn't believe her ears. She gasped and her hands flew to her mouth.

What?!

"Woh kahan hai? Kaise hai?" She asked still digesting the piece of news just delivered to her.

Where is he? How is he?

"Amar use hospital leke gaya hai. Doctors use abhi dekh rahe hai." He answered.

Amar has taken him to hospital. The doctors are attending to him.

"Aap abhi hospital jaa rahe hai?" Ishani asked her father.

Are you going to the hospital right now?

"Haa. Sirf mai." He said as he eyed his wife and asked her to keep calm.

Yes. Only I am.

"Mai saath chalungi." Harleen announced.

I'll go with you.

"Tum kya karogi wahan Harleen? Koi zarurat nahi hospital ke dhakke khane ki." He tried explaining her.

What will you do there? There's no need for you to go there.

"Mere pati ko goli lagi hai, papa. Mai kaise ghar par beth sakti hu? Mai jaungi aapke saath." She stubbornly said.

My husband has been shot. How can I sit at home? I'll go with you.

"Kuch nahi huva use, beta. Pareshaan na ho. Mera sher puttar hai woh." He said as he kept a hand on her head and patted her.

Nothing has happened to him. Don't worry. He's my brave son.

"Papa please." She requested in a small voice. Tears had started to gather at the back of her eyes.

"Beta mera wada hai mai kal tak use ghar le aunga. Abhi hospital jane ki zid mat karo." He said and left without letting her answer.

Child, I promise to bring him home tomorrow. Just don't insist on going to the hospital right now.

"Harleen beta zyada tension mat lo. Sab theek ho jayega. Aao rab se prarthna karein." Harleen heard her mother-in-law say as she kept both her hands on her shoulder.

Harleen, child, don't worry so much. All's gonna be okay. Come, let's pray to the Lord.

Waheguru kripya madad karein hamari. Harleen silently said as a tear rolled down her eyes.

Oh God, please help us.

~ x ~

So, Ranbir's shot...