It was finally time for us to leave for the airport. Maa entered my room, looking around as she asked, "Have you packed everything?"
"Haan Maa, sab kuch pack ho gaya," I replied, giving her a reassuring smile.
"Good. What about Adi?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
I just shrugged. Maa sighed, muttering, "This boy... oh god, I knew he wouldn't have packed yet."
"Okay, I'm going to check on him. In the meantime, call someone to take your luggage downstairs."
"Okay, ma'am," I replied playfully.
She left, and I turned to double-check my packing, running my hand over the bags, making sure everything was in order. Satisfied, I drifted over to the balcony to take one last look at this beautiful place, letting the memories flood over me.
Suddenly, I felt familiar hands wrap gently around my waist. I didn't need to look to know it was him; his warm scent gave him away.
"Aap?" I whispered softly, not daring to turn around.
He didn't answer. Instead, he rested his chin on my shoulder and pulled me closer, holding me tightly. I placed my hand over his, and with my other hand, I gently cradled his head, feeling his breath warm against my neck. He kissed my palm tenderly, and I could feel him breathing deeply, as if he was trying to memorize this moment, my scent, everything.
He placed a soft kiss on my neck, and I couldn't help but smile. The cool breeze swept around us, carrying the scent of rain and the rustling of leaves, wrapping us in a cocoon of warmth and intimacy.
We didn't say a word; we just stood there, wrapped in each other, feeling the weight of the moment settle around us. Slowly, I turned around to face him, and without a word, I kissed his forehead, then his cheeks, and finally his lips, savoring the softness and warmth. He smiled, his hand finding its way to my hair, caressing it softly as he looked at me with such tenderness it made my heart ache.
I leaned into his chest, resting my head against him as he wrapped one arm around my waist, his other hand gently stroking my hair. Without realizing it, a tear slipped down my cheek. The thought of leaving him felt like pulling away a piece of my heart. I didn't know when it happened, but my heart had begun to beat for him.
He sensed my tears and gently pulled back, cupping my face. "Biwi...?" he asked, concern filling his eyes.
I looked at him, trying to hold back the tears, but they betrayed me, slipping down my cheeks. He wiped them away with his thumb, his eyes softening. "Jaan, please... tell me what's wrong?"
I shook my head, barely able to find my voice. "It's just... I don't feel like going away from you."
A hint of sadness flickered in his gaze, but he held me close, pressing his forehead against mine. "Please don't cry," he whispered, his voice gentle and pleading. He kissed my eyelids softly, letting his lips linger there, as if to erase every trace of my tears. "You're not going away from me, jaan. You're just going to your parents' place for a little while... and once our families know about us, we'll be together, always and forever. Hmm?"
I nodded, trying to believe his words, though the ache in my chest remained.He pulled me even closer, resting his chin on top of my head. "You're a part of me, Divya. Distance can't change that," he murmured, his words washing over me like a comforting blanket. We stayed like that, lost in each other, feeling the warmth and quiet reassurance that, no matter the distance, our hearts were intertwined.
🌸
Next day
We arrived in Delhi yesterday, and by morning, the whole house was buzzing with activity as we tackled the cleaning. With just a few weeks of absence, dust had settled everywhere, making everything look a little dull. Mama had given our maid a month off since we weren't sure about our arrival date, so now it was just us.
Mama was sweeping the floor, her sleeves rolled up, focused on every corner. I was arranging clothes back into the cupboard, making sure everything was folded and sorted. Papa was up on a stool cleaning the ceiling fans, his determination making me smile. Adi, however, was in charge of changing the curtains, which-knowing him-was bound to turn into a minor disaster.
And just as I had expected, it did.
"Didiiiii!!" I heard him shout suddenly, his voice echoing through the house.
Dropping what I was doing, I rushed upstairs, heart pounding. "Kya hua, Adi?" I asked, slightly panicked, only to find him sitting on the floor holding the curtain rod, surrounded by fallen curtains.
"Kya hua?" I repeated, catching my breath.
He looked up at me, cheeks a bit red. "I fell off the stool, and then this curtain rod and all the curtains fell on top of me."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Bewakoof insaan, who shouts like that over such a small thing?" I teased, trying to stifle my giggles.
"Arrey, it wasn't a small thing!" he grumbled, rubbing his arm.
"Jao, tum cupboard set karo. Mai curtains laga deti hoon," I said, taking the curtain rod from him.
He got up, muttering under his breath, and went back to his organizing.
After a couple more hours of hard work, we finally finished cleaning the entire house. Exhausted, I decided to take a quick shower. As I stepped out and got dressed, I noticed that it was already 3:00 p.m. The house was quiet, everyone busy or resting after the day's work. Feeling a bit restless, I decided to look around for something to do.
I wandered into Adi's room and found him sprawled out on his bed, fast asleep, with his books scattered around him. I sighed, shaking my head. "Oh god, he's never serious about his studies..."
The TV was still on, blaring softly in the background. I switched it off and gathered his books, stacking them neatly on his desk. "Bachcha hai abhi bhi," I muttered, smiling at his sleeping face.
Satisfied with the tidying up, I went downstairs. In the kitchen, I found Maa busy filling up the ration containers, humming softly to herself. I walked over and asked, "Do you need any help, Maa?"
She looked up, a gentle smile on her face. "Nahi, nahi, Divu. I'll manage. Tum jao, you've done enough for today. Go rest."
With a nod, I returned to my room, feeling the day's efforts catching up with me. Before I knew it, I had dozed off.
When I woke up, it was already 7 p.m., and the sky outside had turned dark. I stretched, feeling refreshed after the nap, and walked to the mirror to comb my hair. As I adjusted my sindoor, which had scattered a bit in my hairline, I picked up my phone and decided to call Di.
The phone rang a few times before she picked up.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Hello, Di! Kaise ho aap?" I asked, warmth filling me at the sound of her voice.
"I'm good, Divu! Aur tum? Tum kya kar rahi ho?"
"Bas, aise hi bore ho rahi thi. Ghar ki safai ho gayi, aur ab sab kuch thik-thak lag raha hai," I said, sighing. "Aap kya kar rahi ho?"
"Oh, I'm just filling out a job application form for an interview here in Lucknow," she replied, sounding focused.
"Ohh, why don't you just join Jiju's company?" I suggested playfully.
"Haan, I could, but you know how people will talk. They'd say I only got the job because I'm his wife," she said with a slight chuckle.
"Hmm, true, Di," I replied, understanding her point.
"Anyway, bas thoda aur hai, bas almost fill ho gaya," she said.
"Accha! Waise, bohot boring lagta hai aapke bina yahan... room bhi khaali khaali sa lagta hai," I admitted.
She chuckled, her laughter bringing comfort. "Mujhe bhi, Divu. Tum logon ki bohot yaad aa rahi hai."
I was about to reply when I heard her say, "Aap?"
Then Jiju's voice came through the phone. "Ji, today I was missing my wife a lot, so I thought I'd come home early," he said with a hint of affection in his voice.
"Accha ji," Di replied, sounding amused.
I couldn't help but chuckle, entertained by their little exchange.
"Kisse baat kar rahi hain?" I heard Jiju ask in the background.
"Divu se," Di replied.
"Ohh! How's she?" Jiju asked, his voice a bit louder now.
"She's good, just missing me," Di said, glancing at the phone with a smile in her voice.
"Tell her not to worry. Soon, I'll bring you back for pagphera," he added warmly.
I laughed, feeling my heart lighten as I listened to their banter. "Di, you two are adorable," I said, teasingly.
Di laughed softly, and then Jiju added, "Divu, don't worry. When I bring her for pagphera, we'll make sure to spend lots of time with all of you."
"That sounds like a plan, Jiju!" I replied happily.
After a few more minutes of chatting and laughter, we said our goodbyes, and I hung up, smiling. Their warmth made me feel comforted, even in the distance. The house felt a bit less empty, knowing I'd see Di soon, and that made my heart feel full as I prepared to join the family for dinner downstairs.
🌸
After dinner, I settled on the balcony, immersed in my favorite series as the cool night breeze swept over me. I was so absorbed in the episode that a soft knock on my door startled me. Slightly annoyed, I got up to answer it. Adi stood there, looking half-asleep with his eyes barely open.
"What is it, Adi?" I asked, confused.
Without saying much, he held out my phone, his voice barely a mumble. "Here, take it."
I blinked, puzzled. "what?"
"Jiju's calling," he muttered, handing me the phone before stumbling inside and collapsing onto my bed, drifting off almost immediately.
Feeling a bit apprehensive, I took the phone and returned to the balcony. Pressing it to my ear, I softly said, "Hello?"
"Where the hell have you kept your phone, biwi?" His voice was sharp, laced with tension that startled me.
"It's with me," I replied, feeling my heart race at the intensity in his tone.
"Then why haven't you been answering my calls, Divya?" he demanded, a mix of irritation and worry seeping through. His concern was unmistakable, and it caught me off guard.
I looked down, realizing I'd accidentally left my phone on silent. Five missed calls from him glared back at me, and a pang of guilt settled in my stomach. "It was on silent... I didn't hear it."
A tense silence followed. I could picture him rubbing his forehead, a habit I'd noticed he had whenever he tried to control his frustration. The thought that I'd made him worry weighed on me, stirring a subtle ache in my chest.
After a moment, he spoke, his voice softer but still tinged with irritation. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? I called you five fucking times."
Hearing the concern beneath his words sent a warmth through me, mingling with the guilt. "I... didn't mean to miss your calls," I replied gently. "I was just caught up."
He let out a sigh, and I could sense the tension easing from him. "Just... don't do that again," he said, his voice softening further. "I need to know you're safe."
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