2| Ulfat

🦢 Kabhi sukoon, kabhi lage bala hai,

Kabhi dua kabhi lage hala hai,

Naino se ye kya ho chala hai 🦢

The next morning, Arjun woke up from a restless sleep. All night he couldn't help but be hyper aware of the woman sleeping next to his daughter.

He hadn't fully realised until this moment that he was a married man, again. He had included someone else in his life once again, as his wife. He was once again responsible for an innocent person's safety.

He got up from his sleeping position and sat at his side of the bed. He picked his phone and immediately texted his right hand man to appoint bodyguards for Maya.

He had a number of tasks at his hand now that Maya was a part of his life. He was going to treat her with the respect and care that she deserves and the first step towards it would be to make her aware of his status as the head of a mafia gang.

He wondered how that conversation would go? Will she be surprised? Will she start behaving differently? Will she accept him after knowing the truth and worst of all, will she start fearing him?

He couldn't risk Maya leaving Aashna since she was already so attached to her. It would break Aashna's little heart if Maya started maintaining a distance from her. He couldn't jeopardise this alliance and hurt Aashna. Whatever he was gonna do, he had to be extremely careful of his daughter's attachment with Maya.

He rubbed his palms on his face as his mind started filling up with a variety of questions. He heaved a deep sigh and looked back at his daughter and her new mother next to her.

Whenever he was at home, all of his time was spent with his daughter, looking after her tutoring her, and taking care of her. He was more than happy doing everything for Ashna by himself, but the only thing that he cannot do was be your mother to her.

Thankfully, Maya was all that Aashna needed in her life. She was a dedicated and honest person who was very gentle and loving towards her. She came from a well educated and cultured family and was bought up in a very good way. She was welcoming and caring towards everyone. The basis of her personality was soft, intellectual and friendly, all that he'd want her daughter to be one day.

He pressed a small kiss on Aashna's head and walked towards the walk-in closet attached to his room. Pulling out his workout clothes, he changed into them and made his way downstairs towards the in-house gym.

Maya woke up due to the sound of her alarm. She didn't realise when the clock struck 7:30 a.m. She groggily turned the alarm off before it could wake Aashna up. She noticed Arjun's side of the bed to be empty.

She walked into the walk-in closet and opened her luggage bag. She pulled out her clothes for the day and knocked on the bathroom door. As she didn't get any response, she opened the door a bit and found it empty. She walked in and took a quick bath and came out.

She went near the vanity and did her morning skin care routine. After that she wore her jewellery, including her mangalsutra. She then applied a bit of vermillion in the partition of her hair and gave herself a smile in the mirror.

She was looking like a proper newlywed bride.

She climbed downstairs and walked towards the kitchen. She was greeted by the house-help there. She helped them to prepare breakfast and tea. She discovered that Arjun doesn't like tea and takes a strong cup of coffee in the morning so she prepared that for him.

"Umm.. Arjun kaha hai?" She asked once they were done preparing everything.

Where is Arjun?

"Woh gym mei honge." The head of the house-helps replied.

He must be in the gym.

"Okay." She said and walked towards the gym. She knocked on the door and heard a small grunt from inside. She took it as an answer and opened the door

"Arjun?" She said as her eyes fell on her husband.

Arjun was on the floor, doing push-ups. He was wearing a black wife-beater and grey gym pants. He was covered in sweat and was still going hard at the push-ups. Maya stood by the door and observed his biceps and arm muscles as he moved. She couldn't believe she got married to this oh-so-handsome man.

"Bolo Maya?" Arjun said as he continued counting his push-ups.

Yes Maya?

Maya snapped out of her daze and cleared her throat before speaking up.

"Woh, bas batane ayi thi ke breakfast ready hai."

I just came to inform that breakfast is ready.

"Aashna ko school ke liye taiyaar kardu uske baad aata hu." He said as he got up from his previous position. As soon as his eyes fell on Maya, he gave her an over-all look.

Once I get Aashna ready for school, I'll be there.

"Aashna ko mai taiyaar kardu? Tab tak aap ready ho jaiye. Office bhi jana hoga na." Maya offered as she observed whatever Arjun was doing.

How about I get Aashna ready? In the meantime, you can get dressed yourself. You must have to go to office too.

He walked towards a bench and grabbed a towel, rubbing off the sweat from his face. He grabbed his bottle and chucked the water down.

"Okay." He said as he walked towards where she was standing. He starred directly into her eyes as he continued walking. Maya felt herself being rooted in her place, not able to look away from his eyes.

Arjun stopped right in front of her and observed her face for a solid minute. She blinked her eyes unable to understand what was he doing.

"Kya hua?" She asked, her voice coming out way more softer than before.

What happened?

"Bahot khoobsurat lag rahi ho." He said as he tucked a loose stand of her hair behind her ear and walked out of the door, the next second.

You're looking very beautiful.

Maya blushed a bit at his proximity and bit her lip to stop a smile from taking place on them.

.

.

.

"Maya, zara meri study mei aana toh." Maya heard Arjun's voice from the door of the kitchen.

Maya, come to my study.

"Haan." Maya shortly replied.

Yes.

"Aur ek cup coffee bhi bana dena." Arjun requested and got a nod in return.

And make a cup of coffee as well.

It was 6 pm currently and she was surprised to see him back so soon. According to what she had heard from her in-laws and house-helps, Arjun returns home only after 8 pm.

Maya prepared a cup of coffee for him and took it with her. She walked to his study and knocked on the door. Hearing a reply from his side, she opened the door and walked in.

Approaching his desk, she handed him the cup and waited for him to take a sip.

"Coffee tumne banai hai?" Arjun asked after taking a sip.

Have you prepared this coffee?

"Ji." She replied.

Yes.

"Aachi hai." He complimented and gestured her to sit opposite him.

It's nice.

"Aashna kahan hai?" Arjun questioned, closing the files he was previously working on.

Where is Aashna?

"Woh apne room mai hai. Abhi usse fruits deke aayi hu." Maya replied.

She's in her room. I just gave her some fruits.

"Theek hai. Maya, ab mai jo bhi kahun, dhyaan aur patience se sunna." Arjun said, his words coming out calculated and precise. Maya nodded in sincerity.

Okay. Maya, whatever I'm about to say, listen to it carefully and patiently.

"Maya, mai koi ordinary businessman nahi hu. Mai India ke most powerful aur dangerous mafia organisation ka head hu. My gang deals with armaments and stolen artifacts from around the world. We do not kill or illtreat innocent people. We are just into smuggling and illegal shipments." Arjun said and took a pause to observe Maya's reaction. She was visibly confused and was silent, not wanting to cut Arjun off.

Maya, I'm no ordinary businessman. I'm the head of India's most powerful and dangerous mafia organisation.

"Tumhe apni safety ki koi fikar karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Tum meri zimmedari ho aur tumhe mehfoos rakhna mera kaam hai. Mere ghar walon ko ye baat nahi pata, sirf tum ye baat janti ho. Mai tumse bas thodi cooperation aur ye raaz ko raaz hi rakhne ki umeed rakhta hu. Tumhe kuch puchna hai to puch sakti ho."

You do not need to worry about your safety. You are my responsibility and it's my job to keep you safe. My parents don't know about this, only you do. I hope you will cooperate with me and also keep this a secret. If you want to ask something, you may.

"Aap ki ya Aashna ki jaan ko koi khatra to nahi hai na?" Maya took a moment of pause and asked in a small voice. She started fidgeting her hands that were resting on the table, in slight nervousness.

Is your or Aashna's life in danger?

"Hum teeno ki jaan ko koi khatra nahi hai. I provide the best protection for all of us. Do not worry." Arjun said as he kept a hand on Maya's.

There's no danger to the lives of all three of us.

Maya's words touched Arjun's heart. She was more worried about his and Aashna's safety than her own. She really was one of the most selfless woman he had ever met.

A strange silence enveloped the room. Both the souls were busy in their own chain of thoughts. While Maya was still digesting and dealing with the piece of information Arjun shared with her, her husband on the other hand was trying to deduce from her face what thoughts must be running through her head currently.

"I hope you're okay with this." Arjun said after a silent moment.

"As long as everyone is safe, I guess there's nothing for me to worry about." Maya said with a nervous smile.

"As I said, apni jaan ki fikar mat karo. Tumhari hifazat meri zimmedari hai." Arjun said.

Don't worry about your life. Your safety is my responsibility.

"Mujhe meri jaan ki zyada fikar nahi. Bas mere aas paas ke logo mehfooz rahe. Aur waise bhi..." Maya said and heaved a sigh.

I don't worry so much about my life. I just want people around me to stay safe. And anyways...

"Ek shaam aur dhal gayi, ek din aur jee liya." Maya said a she looked out of the window towards the setting sun.

Another evening has passed, another day I've lived.

"Waah." Arjun said as she looked back at him.

Wow.

"Toh aap shayari bhi kar leti hai?" Arjun said as he discovered a new side of his wife today.

So you write poems as well?

"Ji. Ab aapne ek raaz apna bataya to ek mera bhi sun lijeya." Maya said with a shy smile.

Yes. Now that you've shared a secret of yours, listen to one of mine as well.

"Kaisa raaz?" Arjun prompted her to speak further.

What secret?

"Mai ek published poet hu. Anonymous naam se meri 2 kitaabein chap chuki hai aur thodi bahot famous bhi hai."

I'm a published poet. I have 2 books published under anonymous name and they're a bit famous as well.

"Bahot acche. Ab se kuch likho to mujhe bhi sunnana. Zyada padha tho nahi kabhi par appreciate to kar hi sakta hu." Arjun said with a small smile.

Very good. From now on, if you write anything, read it to me. I have limited knowledge on the topic but I can appreciate it for sure.

"Jaisa aap kahein." Maya shyly said with a smile. After her mother, only Arjun knows about her being a poet now.

As you say.

~ Maya's dress ~

P.S: All the shayaris that Maya says won't be my own. Most of them belong to someone else.