Prologue
“Hi sir.. yes I am the new Nanny of Chahat... I am privileged to be working for you... shoot Sakshi... speak properly... ek ACP ki baby ko handle karne jaa rahi hai... shant... shant... shant...” Sakshi repeated her lines to herself...
“Idea... do the happy dance...” Sakshi thought and turned around and did a silly step which looked like Sakshi was just affected with a wave of retardation... well she had to prep up... she was meeting an ACP - the ACP, even after googling his pictures online she was sure he really couldn’t be as handsome as he came in the pictures!
“Ahem.. looking for someone...” a husky voice asked...
“Wait... don’t distract me during happy dance... huff...puff... yeah.. it’s raining men... hallelujah.. I have to talk to the awarded brave one and only ACP Rawte... it’s tough you see... I gotto make an awesome impression you see... like desh drohi... oh sorry... desh lover... so... It’s raining men... hallelujah...” Sakshi sang when the person tapped her shoulder again...
A gold anklet shined and chimed in the air... it had small shapes of a horse, a cat and a heart attached to it... her hips swayed left right... her hair was tied up in a messy bun... her patyala flowed left right... her bangles making all the sound in the world... her soft kurti danced with her...
“Aap Miss. Sakshi Anand ko jaante hai kya?” the voice asked...
She turned behind and laughed.. her laughter filling the sky with her singsong voice... “Arrey main khud Sakshi Anand... aur aap oh frigggin lord!” Sakshi said shocked to find THE Arjun Suryakant Rawte standing with his arms crossed above his chest...
Wearing long trousers and a tight shirt (which beautifully reflected his abs and chiseled chest and the collar bones which stood out) , his hair neat in place and a chiseled jawline, he looked an exact replica of those hot hollywood dads!
Sakshi gaped at the guy whom she immediately had a silly crush on then it dawned to her that he indeed is ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte... she fumbled and hit into a salute!
“Sir... Jai Hind Sir... Bharat Maata ki Jai Sir... Mumbai Police ki Jai Sir... Satyamev Jayate Sir! Sir the police are the greatest... aap humare desh ko raksha karte hai... salaam hai aap ko Sir!” Sakshi saluted and rattled off whatever she could do about the Indian Police...
Arjun thoroughly amused raised a hand to shut up Sakshi... Sakshi kept her mouth quiet however her hand remained in salute position...
“Miss Anand... tum... nanny... like...” Arjun voiced his concern...
“Sir!” she said so loudly that even Arjun got slightly shocked...
Coming in attention position she said “Aapko koi mauka nahi milega shikaayat ke liye.. Sir! Main apni kaam imaandari se nibhaungi... Sir!” she said...
“Ok... but one week... usske baad I would see how you handle my baby... phir sochunga...” he said...
“Sir!” Sakshi said and Arjun hit his palm on his head “Umm... Miss Anand baar baar Sir bulaane ki zaroorat nahi hai...” Arjun said...
“Done Sir!” she saluted... Arjun shook his head negatively and ushered her into his house...
The minute she came in she collided against the vase creating a noise... Arjun just looked at her... “Sir! Sorry Sir!” she said and kept her hands behind her back...
As they walked she looked at the number of medals... and the number of awards... and especially his photos... and the cuto muto baby’s photo...
And she collided straight into Arjun... her eyes closed the minute she smelt his masculine fragrance... nice deo! Shut up Sakshi! But still a teenage thought wafted in her mind as her vivacious eyes locked with his intense ones... wow... he did seem like those intense waala lover... Sakshi control... but c’mon... he seems to have a personality that one might easily get distracted with! She laughed in her mind as this was the 5th married man she was having a crush on! Oh... the previous 4 are Roger Federer, Shahrukh Khan, David Beckham and...
Till she saw him glaring at her “Chale Miss. Anand... ya phir aap abhi bhi khoye chuke hai!” he said...
“Sorry Sir!” she saluted and he shook his head...
She followed him closely... her senses already infatuated with this man... but one thing she realized what that there was no photo of the wife!
“Mrs. Rawte kaha hai?” she blurted to find Arjun glaring at her... “Sir! Main kabhi nahi poochungi sir!” she saluted and he just shook his head...
... something told him that this girl would bring upon a total change in his otherwise peaceful life...
And he was so right on that...
~*~
CHAPTER 1
Sakshi romped around the house in such an excited manner as if it was an amusement park!
“Tum thori der theek se baith nahi sakte kya!” he growled at her…
“Sorry sir…” she muttered… Akdu khadoos kahi ka! Huh! Pata nahi daddy aisa hai toh beti kaisi hogi!!!
“Kuch kaha?” he snapped at her…
“Sir! No sir! Kabhi nahi sir!” she said…
“Chalo… yeh Chahat ka kamra hai…” he smiled…
“Chahat ka kamra? Raat main ek saath nahi sote ho kya?” she argued…
“Arrey mere wajeh se baby ko lag jaye toh?” he counter backed..
“Oh… matlab raat main bohot haat per chalte hai kya?” she winked at him to find him glaring at her…
“Sir… I mean… ek bache ke saath hi hona chahiye… kids ki development achi hoti hai…” she smiled and beamed…
“Lagta hai tumhara bohot saara bacha ho chuka hai!” he sneered at her… to see her smile falter for a second…
“Ww… chalo Baby ko dekhte hai… aur please.. main shadi se pehle hanky panky main believe nahi karti! Aur kya main shadi shuda dikhti hoon… u mean I look that old… let me say Sir mujhe yeh bilkul acha nahi laga! And wait bohot saare bache… am I that fat! Huh… I am size 6… aur yeh achi baat hai.. not that I fit into small size shirts… but medium is loose enough… or haan… ek ladki ki weight…” she found her words muffled as he kept his palm on her soft mouth…
“Ssh!! Kitni baat karti ho! Let’s see theeeeAAA” Arjun shrieked as he slipped on a toy on the baby room with Sakshi tumbling over him…
Sakshi just gaped at him… as she fell on his perfect body… oh oh… he did seem to be a Hercules!
“Hercules!” she batted her eyelashes for him to look at her as if she fell out of the book “How to Be an Idiot…”
“What!” he said… “Umm… Sir… woh… aapne kabhi Hercules movie dekhi!” Sakshi said brightly…
“Not again…” he groaned and kept his hand on his head…
He tried to get up… his strong arms resting on her waist… no need to say about the eyelock… when somebody said…
“Aha.. aha… agugu… gugoi!” a cute voice chirped from the end of the room…
“Oh my… is that your baby!” Sakshi said excitedly and ran up to the little tumbling bundle of joy…
Arjun was about to stop her… lest she dropped his baby… but what he saw then left a small void in his heart…
She immediately removed her bangles and chains and shoved it in her bag… tying up her hair into a tight bun she picked up a small teddy from her bag… Chahat easily came into Sakshi’s arms…
Arjun just sat on the floor and looked at Sakshi who handled Chahat with the ease of a… he let the words remain incomplete…
He gulped at that… Sakshi showered the baby with kisses and hugs and took her near the curtains… the soft baby pink curtains which had minnie mouse printed on them… Sakshi opened the windows as the gentle breeze flew in… the strands of her hair danced in her face… after a few minutes Chahat rested her bobbing head on Sakshi’s chest… while her stubby fingers in her mouth… she seemed to speak her own gagagugu language…
Chahat turned to see her baba… “Ba..ba..ba..bab..bab…” her little nose flared pink as she tried to pronounce ‘baba’ in one go…
Arjun chuckled and took Chahat in his arms… “Kya baat hai… Miss. Anand ko dekh ke baba ko bhool gayi kya?” he tickled her soft tummy…
“Nababab… bushuuuu…” Chahat chuckled and rewarded her father with a sloppy kiss…
Sakshi on the other hand inspected all the things in the room… she checked what all Chahat should be fed… what allergies she has…
Arjun guided her to kitchen… showed Sakshi the drawers for Chahat’s food… and also the temperature at which milk should be given…
“ACP Sahab… aap jitna policegiri ke baare main jaante hai… utna main bachon ke baare main jaanti hoon… so don’t worry… this delicious plum-cake is in very safe hands…” Sakshi gave her million dollar smile…
Chahat chuckled… suddenly she looked at Sakshi… then at her baba… then started pouting… “Pogu…” she said softly and started crying…
“Deva… acha Sakshi.. good ki Chahat ko potty aa gayi… woh sirf 8 months ki hai… toh potty trainer hai… but keep her back straight ok?” he guided Sakshi who followed him like an obedient student…
“Mera bacha… tera baba hai na… pogu ki khogu karwa doonga! yeh baat alag hai ki kal se kuch der ke liye Baba ki jaga yeh ladki hogi… par tu mera shonu bacha na!” Arjun hugged his baby and changed his kiddo’s diapers…
Sakshi leaned at the door and watched at a loving father and his cute kid… she smiled a little… it was almost unbelievable to see such a transformation… anyone would find it hard to believe that he was indeed the ACP whose name would be enough to rattle bones in a criminal’s body… was now a loving father who listened to all the whims and fancies of his tiny baby…
Hours passed by as Arjun gave each and every instruction to Sakshi… Sakshi chuckled and noted down everything as if it were orders…
As Chahat poked at her baba’s chest… then punched slightly… giggling… Arjun noticed Sakshi lost in a daze…
“Kya baat hai Miss. Anand?” he asked…
“Woh Sir… aapko dekh ke.. yakeen nahi aata… anyways… toh main aaj se yaha rehloon… please! Like you know 24 x 7 with Chahat phir! No security issues then!” Sakshi smiled…
“Yep… but then… tumne kuch note hi nahi kaha… tell me ki Chahat ko kab kaunsi cheez kis samay pe chahiye…” he asked Sakshi… and to his amazement she rattled off as if she too knew Chahat from her birth…
“Acha… sir main neeche guest room pe settle ho jaati hoon…” Sakshi smiled…
“Woh chota hai na?” he asked…
“Arrey Sir why fear when Sakshi here! Kal dekhna kamra kitna dhasu hoga mere liye!” Sakshi smiled…
“Waise… umm… woh… thanks for the job!” Sakshi smiled as baby Chahat dozed off… safely cocooned in her baba’s arms…
He kissed her cheeks… and Chahat snuggled further into her baba… Sakshi said an audible aww at that to receive a glare from Arjun…
“Sir ji… itna khadoos bhi mat bano… I know aap ek ache insaan ho.. anyways… always keep your baby by your side when you sleep… ek maa ya baba ke touch se bache ke development 10 % increase hoti hai… you know!” Sakshi smiled…
Arjun thought… but what if he hits his child in his sleep? Like flinging his arms here and there…
“Nahi hoga sir… try karo… sach main…” Sakshi gave a reassuring smile and went to her “present room” which was a tiny guest room…
“Btw Miss. Anand… I know tum yaha Ayesha ki reference se aayi ho… I would still like to have a copy of your passport and stuffs… and yes… also kal notice laana of you working here officially as a nanny… ok? And yep… the guest room is more of a library with a bed in it… kal with the documents you can start staying here… Good Night…” he said…
“Yes Sir! Actually I’ll bring the stuffs over here.. mere paas sab hai.. so can I stay here… from like now.. cause the thing is that maine abhi tak koi rehne ka jaga nahi tae kiya… hihi” Sakshi said embarrassed…
“Cool… just knock on my door when you have these things…” Arjun nodded and retired for the day…
“Haan… Ayesha main hi bol raha hoon… tumhara cousin chalega as of now… for one week I would keep her under observation… and see how she is doing… waise mera bada bhai aka your pati dev… usko phone do zara…” Arjun chuckled on the phone as he kept a snoring Chahat on his bed…
“Haan Sam.. yeah… even though she is Ayesha’s cousin I want you to keep her under your tab… not overprotective… it’s for her security as well… jab main office main rahoon I should know na what’s happening at home… okay then… bye… see ya at 9 tomorrow…” Arjun kept the phone and changed into his homewear… that included of only trousers and a vest…
He slid next to his daughter… a princess… he kissed her soft chubby cheeks…
“Bababab…” his bacha muttered at night… Arjun felt a sense of being overwhelmed… especially when his baby snuggled into him…
True… perhaps Miss. Anand was right after all.. he fell into deep sleep… tucking his baby carefully beside him…
Though his last thoughts were about the mother of this child… his jaws tightened… but he calmed himself down…
An arm beside his baby like a pillow he dozed off… keeping an alarm for 7.00…
~*~
Chapter 2
Sameer came back home… he was late… as usual…
He gently pecked his sleeping son… tiptoeing to his bedroom where Ayesha would have been sleeping…
“Aa gaye?” she said… switching off the television…
Sameer removed his shirt and picked up his pajamas… “Soi nahi abhi tak?”
“Woh neend nahi aa rahi thi…” Ayesha said softly…
Sameer turned towards his wife… it was 12.30 at night… “Ayesha… tumhe bas ek hafta hue hai since you were shot… kuch toh khayal rakho apni… medicines hai right… phir bhi nahi soh rahi ho… mere bare main chinta nahi karna padega…” Sameer slid into the bed…
“Ab kya chinta karne ka haq bhi nahi hai…” Ayesha said wryly…
Sameer just turned towards Ayesha… those words pricked him hard…
“Aaj bohot kaam tha… isliye late ho gaya…” Sameer said… Ayesha hummed in response…
“Yeh toh roz hota hai… anyways… woh Khan ka case crack hua…” Ayesha asked.. Sameer nodded…
She just waited for him to switch off the news channel and perhaps tuck her to bed… these were silly things… but 5 years in marriage… these were a few things that she expected…
Moreover next month was their anniversary… waise bhi he has missed almost all of the anniversaries
“Main Aamir ke paas sone jaa rahi hoon… shayad usko meri zaroorat hai… “ Ayesha sighed…
Sameer just turned to look at his wife… he clenched his jaws…
“Jaisi tumhari marzi…” he said softly…
Ayesha looked at Sameer and smiled a little… yeah… he was never the husband who would take the first step…
They were… though at one time inseparable… but there also Ayesha had taken every step forward…
Sigh… at least they used to be together… after the birth of Aamir as of everything changed… his working hours increased… his schedule increased… in fact he somehow made it for Aamir’s birthdays…
“Main yahi so jaati hoon… waha jaane main takleef hogi…” Ayesha murmured to herself… unaware that her hot cop husband had heard everything…
She dozed off soon enough… then Sameer gently placed the blanket on her…
“Kaha gayi woh Ayesha jo mere har baat ko leke khush ho jaati… kaha gayi woh Ayesha jo mujhe dekh ke ek pyaari si smile deti… tum maa toh ban gayi Ayesha… par… biwi… usse main kho chuka…” he tenderly planted a kiss on her forehead…
Sameer sighed… Ayesha never had time for him… always running behind Aamir… first few days he used to have lunch with Arjun…
And Ayesha… she didn’t bother much… at office, home, bed, kitchen… everywhere… it was only and only Aamir…
Not that he had an angst against it… their baby bonny boy Aamir was indeed such a sweetheart… he was a blessing for Sameer and Ayesha…
Sameer had been an introvert… always… however Ayesha’s extrovert behavior made him amaze… as well as fall for her…
Tangled in his thoughts he turned his back towards her and dozed off…
Somewhere… somehow they had lost the Rhythm of their love…
~*~
*clink* Arjun’s ears picked up on the sound… his hand automatically went to his baby who was fast asleep… he breathed in a sigh of relief…
*clink* his eyes shot open… cold sweat broke out… not again… not again…
His baby slept with her mouth open… twisted into an eagle shape… her one hand clutched her dad’s vest…
Arjun kissed his baby softly… shifting her to a cot… so as to she doesn’t fall off, he took out his emergency gun… he locked the room… his phone was on his hand… he was ready to speed dial Sameer…
Gently tip toeing towards the kitchen he kept his eyes and ears open…
When he heard… “Mmmm…”
Arjun scratched his head… hein?
Arjun walked in to see the most comical scene in his life…
Sakshi was sitting on the counter… ice cubes thrown onto the floor… and she was eating ice cream… from a bucket… and crying… shoving more cookies ‘n’ cream ice cream into her mouth…
“Sakshi!” A shocked Arjun said and out of fear Sakshi stumbled from the counter…
Arjun went to help her to slip on the ice cubes…
And both fell on the floor… with a huge *THUD*
“Aaai…” Arjun rubbed his bum…
“Oh… Mummy…” Sakshi rubbed her bum… and saw that the person fallen next to her is her employer ACP Rawte!
“Arrey Deva! Sir! Jai Hind! Vande Mataram! Bharat Maata ki jai! Jai Maharashtra! Jai Mumbai! Satyamev Jayate Sir!” Sakshi blabbered and Arjun shut her mouth!
He sat cross legged on the floor…
“Kripa karke Miss. Anand kya aap humain bata sakte hai ki aap kar kya rahe the?” Arjun half glared at her…
“Woh hum… bhook lag rahi thi… toh ice cream kha rahi thi…” Sakshi gave a tiny smile…
“Acha… aur ro kyun rahi thi?” Arjun asked her… heavily pissed off…
“Sir… woh main emotional movie dekh rahi thi… you know Kal Ho Na Ho ki last scene where SRK dies… toh haan…” Sakshi mumbled…
“Oh God… Miss. Anand… aap thoda na… uffo… you freaked me out… upar se awaaz aa rahi thi!” Arjun grumbled…
“OHHHHH… me so sorry sir! I’ll clean up this mess… abhi…” Sakshi took a broom and started cleaning up the mess…
Arjun just shook his head…
Seriously! What’s so emotional in Kal HO Na Ho!
Sakshi came again into his view with a salute…
“Miss. Anand… kitna baar kahu ki salute ki zaroorat nahi hai!” Arjun said when he found Sakshi laugh a little…
“Ab kya?” he gruffed…
“Kuch nahi… aap raat ko sote samay sirf vest aur track pants pehenke sote hai?” Sakshi laughed…
Arjun felt a little conscious and folded his arms across… “Nahi… usually Sherwani pe sota hoon… aaj by mistake vest aur track pants pehna! Obviously… sone ke samay dheele dhaale kapde hi pehenne chahiye!”
Sakshi got silenced… “Par waise bhi you looked like my dadu… he used to wear vest and dhoti while sleeping… jab main 6 saal ki thi mujhe kuch samaj nahi aaya… toh maine dadu ka dhoti nikal di towel sochke… phir pitayi bhi khayi!” Sakshi chuckled…
Arjun smirked a little… when Sakshi handed him a file…
He looked at her inquisitively…
“Woh sir saare documents aur 450 rupees… hehe… woh ice cream ka bucket khali kiya na… waise ghar pe yeh ice cream tha… matlab wait… aapko bhi ice cream pasand hai… awesome baat na si… yeh awaaz kaisi?” Sakshi strained her ears…
“Chau roh rahi hai!” Arjun shrieked and ran upstairs… Sakshi followed him in heels…
Arjun switched on the lights in his room and found Chaahat crying her lungs out… she was sitting and holding the railing…
“Bababababababababbbb…” she flared her little red nose on seeing Arjun…
“Mera baby.. my princy… my angel… my jaan…” Arjun immediately took his crying kid in his arms… she hugged him tightly…
He cradled his child and kissed her…
Sakshi sat on the bed… noticing the duo… her heart swelled up… she loved kids…
Especially this one!
Chaahat snuggled into Arjun… her tiny fist clutching his vest tightly…
Arjun mumbled sorry repeatedly till his baby stopped crying…
Chaahat looked at her baba… she planted a soft kissi on his chest… well… she wasn’t tall enough to reach his cheeks!
“Aww…” Sakshi said to catch the attention of the Rawte and Jr. Rawte…
Sakshi squeezed a rubber duckie…
“Quack!” the duckie said and Chaahat looked at it… stunned…
She crawled out of her baba’s lap…
“Quack!” the duck said again…
Sakshi made weird funny faces and Chahat looked at her confused…
Even her baba was just looking at her… confused…
And Sakshi hid her face in her palms and suddenly said “Tuki!”
Chaahat burst into peals of laughter…
Sakshi again hid her palms… and yelled Tuki!
Chaahat laughed like anything…
“Get the recorder!” Sakshi whispered to Arjun who took his iPhone and begun to video record his chubby daughter laughing her head off…
She laughed so much that she fell down on the bed again…
Sakshi played with the rubber duckie making her laugh all the more…
Arjun saved the video and dragged his little baby towards him…
“Acha… Mājhē lahāna bāḷa (my little baby) … Āpalyā bābā samōra hasata (apne baba ke saamne haso)…. please please please… Thōḍē hāsya (thoda haso)…” he nuzzled into his baby’s stomach making her squeal in laughter…
“Bababab…” Chaahat squealed… with her tiny arms she cupped her baba’s face… she giggle… “Agu… gugu…” as her baba tickled her stomach and showered her with kisses…
Suddenly Chaahat looked at her father.. she touched her stomach and pouted… “An..nn..naaa” she said softly…
“Aila… isse Suniel Shetty chahiye!” Sakhi said…
Chaahat looked and Sakshi and crawled towards her… “Naa… naaa.. aannn.. anna…” Chahat climbed up Sakshi’s lap as the necklace dangling took her interest…
“Nahi… Marathi main Anna matlab khaana! Suniel Shetty nahi!” Arjun chuckled…
“Babababababbb…” Chaahat chuckled as she played with Sakshi’s necklace and called her father…
“Aww…” Sakshi said again…
Arjun took his baby in his arms and walked towards the kitchen… muttering various things in Marathi…
“Bhukelela vatata? (feeling hungry?) Majhe goda bala…(my sweet bacha)” Arjun tickled her soft stomach as Chaahat smiled and nodded…
“Ahem… Marathi to Hindi translation pleej!” Sakshi said…
“Nothing… just a papa daughter’s talk.. hai na Chau!” Arjun smiled…
“Khasmanu khaaniya… use dina mainu ika ajnabi si!” Sakshi pouted…
As Arjun placed Chaahat in Sakshi’s arms while he prepared Cerelac he asked Sakshi… “Kya keh rahi thi?”
“Kyun… tum Marathi gaana chalao… main Punjabi na bol saku! Yehi kaha ki ek din main paraya kar diya… pata hai Chaahat!” Sakshi complained to Chaahat…
Arjun just smacked his head on Sakshi’s crazy antics…
“Waise Sakshi… yeh Cerelac haan… bas itna sa pani ke saath… no cow’s milk now okay… only formula milk… samjhi ya samjhaaun?” Arjun asked…
“Samajgayi… waise sir… yeh counter ke upar seating arrangement aur pillows kyun hai?” Sakshi asked as she found one counter to have a cushion base and pillows aside and a hanging table…
“Abhi samjhaata hoon…” Arjun said… he sat on the soft cushion and put on sling kind of thing… he kept the Cerelac bowl at the side and slipped Chaahat into the sling… so he fed her and played with her continuously…
“Kya dekh rahi ho?” Arjun asked after Chaahat ate her full…
“Woh… Chaahat ko ek maa ki zaroorat hai hi nahi.. nahi ek nanny ke…” Sakshi smiled…
And for the first time her akdu employer smiled back…
“Thanks… par kal se am joining office… toh tab you have to handle her… Anna means food… bababab means me… pogu means potty… nini means sleepy… su means susu… agu gu gogoi is when she laughs… ok?” Arjun said…
“Okay sir… waise raat ke ek baje hai… sir aap kab jaa rahe ho…” Sakshi asked…
“Subah 6 baje… utt jaana…” Arjun ordered and Sakshi nodded her head…
Chaahat bid a sleepy tata while Arjun washed her mouth with water and with a baby toothbrush brushed her little forming teeth…
“Sakshi after every meal muh dho lena aur haan… toothbrush at morning and night.. okay?” Arjun asked and Sakshi nodded…
Chaahat rested her bobbing head on the crook of her father’s head and dozed off while Arjun tiptoed to his room…
~*~
Arjun placed his sleeping baby beside him… he never knew his baby would miss his touch once he left her sleeping…
“Sorry baby… aisa phir nahi hoga…” Arjun smiled and hugged her…
He was happy that he could look after his child… and didn’t need a mother… it meant a lot for him… she never bothered about him… nor her child…
Did money mean so much?
Perhaps it did…
“Rohini… please… don’t go… humara bacha!” Arjun cradled his infant….
“Arjun… I don’t care… tum mere zaroorat poori nahi kar sakte… maine bas 1 lakh ki hi toh kharcha ki hai! It’s better I leave…” Rohini stomped her foot…
“Roh… what kind of a mum are you… apne beti ko toh aazmaalo!” Arjun looked at her...
Arjun bit back his tears… he had loved his Rohini from the bottom of his heart… she had meant a lot for him… everything…
He recalled that night…
She had been cheating him… since a month and half… that guy spent crores over her… so she decided to walk out of the marriage… leaving behind him and his 2 months old daughter…
Arjun vowed to kill that woman… he was 26… with a baby in his arms… and a capable officer… this is what he would remain… because of lack of mother’s milk Chaahat had faced difficulties but Ayesha and Sam had helped him with the best doctors…
He swore to not marry another woman…
Holding his child near his heart he drifted to sleep…
~*~
CHAPTER 3
Arjun woke up at sharp 5.55…
He felt his arm to be slightly sore…
He rubbed his eyes a little with his left hand when he realized that he couldn’t raise his right hand…
He opened his eyes to see the reason why he couldn’t raise his right hand…
Cause Chaahat was sleeping on his right hand!
She had basically made his entire hand her bed for the night…
Arjun stroked her hair carefully…
He kissed her forehead slightly…
He put his finger near her palm… and to his amazement she wrapped her entire fingers around his index finger…
He closed her open mouth…
He never really understood why and how his wife left him…
Rohini…
She had been extremely beautiful… and Arjun had fallen flat on her…
They married and were happy for the first year… however cracks showed up very soon itself… she would be out for late nights and some friend of hers would always gift her an expensive bag or necklace…
But he was too naive to understand anything…
Greed… could it be more than motherhood? Perhaps…
He sighed… early morning these weren’t the thoughts to occupy his mind…
He untangled his little baby off him and covered her with a blanket… he raised the safety bar and walked out…
True… he had the best sleep of his life… sleeping with your baby next to you… feeling her breathing next to you.. was indeed a blissful moment…
He opened the door…
And with Miss Sakshi Anand being in the house.. he received another shock…
“Good Molnin…” a sleepy Sakshi yawned… with sunglasses on…
Arjun frowned as he looked at Chaahat’s nanny wearing a “Baby Girl” printed long shirt with a heart printed pant… her hair was dishevelled and over that she had aviators…
She was almost sleeping on the wall… and she wore aviators so as to Arjun doesn’t realize that her eyes are closed!
He frowned… “Miss Anand… are you ok?” he asked… she looked drunk!
“Yesh Shir… bash ittu shi tiaad… (tired).. *yawn* but don’t wolly.. yeh shipahi hazir hai!” Sakshi saluted him…
“Sakshi… you know what… go back to sleep for an hour… I will continue my one hour ka exercise with Chaahat by my side…” Arjun looked at her…
“Arrey no Sir! Me awakes!” Sakshi stood straight and smiled…
Arjun just looked at her skeptically and nodded…
“Exercise” Sakshi thought… how exciting!
She washed her face a billion times till her sleepiness could go…
Keeping an eye on Chaahat she watched Arjun taking rounds around his home through the window…
Wearing nothing but a grey vest and track pants…
“Haila Sakshi! Kya fantasy hai re! Yeh toh bilkul kukkad kamaal da!” Sakshi giggled…
“Kya re Chaahat… tu toh meri lucky girl ho gayi… time pass main dekh rahi hoon… haye… yeh ACPs bade handsome hote hai…” Sakshi peered through the window…
And to her luck that’s exactly where he had placed his gym…
So he worked on his biceps and triceps making Sakshi’s eyes pop out…
And she almost got a heart attack and fell straight on the ground…
When he removed his shirt to expose his chiseled abs…
Her brain royally shut off… and on the floor she was shivering!
Sakshi jumped around and then seeing Chaahat she stopped for a second…
Panting slightly Sakshi’s smile almost wiped off…
What was she thinking!
Fantasizing… even though it was innocent… on a married man! Chee chee!
“Kya re Sakku… rule 101… yeh kaisi lesson tu sab ko de rahi hai? Sh*t… every married man is like a brother to you re! Chee re… tu bhi na!” Sakshi berated herself…
Controlling her teenage crush she went about doing all the works in the house…
Though she couldn’t stop giggling at the stupidity of her own mind!
~*~
Few weeks later…
Sameer entered his house late… at around 12.30 in the night…
He checked his phone… there were innumerable missed calls from Ayesha and Arjun…
Strange…
He saw wrappers thrown on the floor and a few flower bouquets here and there…
And on the sofa Ayesha was awake… staring at him…
“Happy Anniversary Sam…” Ayesha said in a broken voice…
Sameer cursed… he forgot their anniversary… again!
“Am so sorry Aye..” Sameer started to be stopped by Ayesha… “Zaroorat nahi hai…” her words were icy, crisp and sharp…
Ayesha walked up to Sameer and thumped a gift and card to Sameer…
“Khana tayyar hai… waise roz jaise bahar ka kha ke aaye ho.. ya khana laga doon?” she kept her gaze aside… lest he sees her eyes brimming with tears…
Sameer’s heart seeped with guilt watching her eyes water…
Ayesha didn’t realize when he came close to her… at breathing’s distance… he held her arm gently… startling her from her thoughts…
“Ashu am very sorry… I know ki 5th anniversary ek milestone jaisa hai and it’s important… but bohot kaam tha Ashu… kasam se… I mean even Arjun, Shree, Liza… sab log bhi busy the…” Sameer sighed…
“Yet sab aaye mujhe wish karne ke liye… apart from my husband…” she looked into his eyes… they had turned glassy…
He looked at her deeply kohled eyes… anniversary was just one of the few days when she would dress up… her slender frame was wrapped up in a gorgeous red georgette saree… her neck was bare… her ears had a beautiful pair of gold earrings… he had gifted it to her… her curly hair had been left loose…
Her lips were tinted to a soft shade of red… she looked beautiful…
He quietly noticed his beautiful wife… breathing in deeply…
Ayesha shrugged her hand of his grip…
She looked at Sameer and shook her head negatively “I can see how important this is…”
“Ashu… well…” Sameer started and stopped by her hand…
“Aaj ek chota sa party rakha tha… shaam ko 6 baje ke kareeb.. only the ETF people… they came and gave their good wishes… table pe hai… padhna hai toh padhlo… main khana laga rahi hoon…” Ayesha spoke curtly…
Sameer sat on the sofa… breathing became difficult for him… watching Ayesha be ignorant towards him hurt him…
“I have eaten…” Sameer said… Ayesha turned immediately towards him….
By the hurt etched on her face he knew he should have taken his words back…
“Par…” before he could complete Ayesha walked off… she took the gift box and unwrapped it and showed him the watch that she gifted…
Sameer’s throat parched… it was an antique watch of his great grandfather’s , it had been his favorite, which had been broken by Aamir…
It looked pristine and beautiful… as if it was bought yesterday…
“Thank You…” Sameer said but by then Ayesha had left…
He looked at the card which was given… he opened to see the small neat cursive handwriting of Ayesha’s…
Dear Sam,
I know bohot din ho gaye hai since I have called you so… I love you… a lot… I realized that perhaps it has been many days since I have been more of Aamir’s mother than your wife… isliye I decided ki aaj I would make everything different… :) You mean a lot to me Sam… I can shamefully say that you mean much more than Aamir… for me…
Thank you so much for making it at our anniversary…
Love you,
Ashu…
A soft growl left his mouth… she’d expected that he would make it for their anniversary…
He removed his shoes and went towards Ayesha… when he realized Aamir isn’t anywhere…
“Ayesha… Aamir kaha hai…” Sameer asked…
Ayesha came out of their bedroom for a few minutes… he saw that her eyes were slightly reddish…
“I had sent him to Maa’s place… for tonight…” she pressed her lips and took in a sigh… then disappeared into their room…
Sammer fisted his hands… she had thought so much for them…
He walked into their bedroom and was surprised to find it in various shades of red… the pale blue duvets were replaced with blood red ones… setting a romantic atmosphere around… few candles were doused off… melted into a wax puddle…
He was late… always…
When his attention went towards Ayesha standing in front of the dressing table… furiously removing her earrings and bangles… she was taking a dry tissue and wiping her lipstick off… bruising her lips to a deeper shade of red… she practically threw her jewellery here and there…
Sameer just walked towards her and back hugged her tightly…
Ayesha stopped everything and closed her eyes… breathing his scent… feeling his warmth…
His one palm slipped into her bare waist… he removed the pallu and rested his lips on the side of her neck… he missed being so close to her… he hoped that she would understand how much he loves her… how much she means to him… and all this… it meant so much… and that he was genuinely sorry…
A soft tear trickled down Ayesha’s cheek as he held her tighter and sniffed her neck and further licked her earlobe… his hands started to draw patterns on her bare waist…
A soft feminine moan left Ayesha’s mouth… which brought Ayesha back to reality… from the mirror she saw him fiddling with her blouse…
Sameer was about to open the dori , his one hand now caressing her back… when he was shoved away…
Ayesha was just staring at him… her chest falling up and down rapidly as she drew in deep breaths…
“No…” Ayesha said in a strong voice and draped her saree over her… she hastily wiped off the tears and walked towards the almirah… taking her night suit when Sameer held her hand…
“Ashu… why no? And I am feeling guilty…” Sameer told her softly…
Ayesha turned around and looked at Sameer… “That’s why after 6 months you want to make love with me right? Not because you want to do it… but because you are feeling guilty… bechari Ayesha ne kitna kuch kiya… she expected so much from me but I became late… hai na?” Ayesha barked at a shocked Sameer…
Ayesha ran her hands through her curly mane…
She dragged Sameer by her hand and took him to the living room… she switched on every light…
She kept him on the sofa… and looked at him… by now her makeup was messed up as she tried to remove them…
“Sameer… I had cooked up your favorite dishes! I had set up the halls… hoping for a simple hug… sorry woh toh humara beech hota hi nahi… we don’t even speak as a husband and wife… mere birthdays tum kab ke bhul chuke ho.. last week tha…” Ayesha said to find Sameer’s mouth widen and a palm go on his head…
Ayesha smiled bitterly… “As usual you forgot… yeh 5th anniversary tha humara… you know how important it is for us! Do you? Kaam kaam kaam… I mean nothing to you Sam!” Ayesha almost yelled at Sameer…
“It’s not that Ayesha…” Sameer tried to hold her hand but she pushed him far…
“What is it then Sam! Do you realize the fact that even on being on the same bed we haven’t made love in the past 6 months! Do you know what that means! I don’t think you love me anymore Sam… subah jaldi chale jaate ho… raat ko tab pohochte ho when I’m almost drowsy… ghar ka khaana toh khate hi nahi ho… aur maine khana toh chor hi diya hai… the only person who sees your smiles and affection is Aamir… I am no one… nobody in this house… nobody for you… certainly now that this marriage is heading downwards…” Ayesha blasted at Sameer…
“Woh… kaam tha… but I…” Sameer spoke to find Ayesha disbelievingly look at him…
“Kaam… kya Shree kaam nahi karta? Chotu nahi karta? Arjun nahi karta - he has a small child in his house yet he came, right? Ghar toh sabhi 6 baje hi jaatein hai na? Maximum 7 baje… at least 8 baje… par tum… and what… you love me? Really? Aisa kya kiya hai aaj tak which makes me realize that yes… you love me… tell me one thing which you did…” Ayesha studied the broken expression on Sameer’s face…
Sameer gulped… he had done nothing to show he ever loves her…
“We only have pictures of our marriage… uske baad… uske baad kuch nahi… I don’t know what to say Sameer… I really don’t know… what is it Sam… tell me Sameer… who is her… ” Ayesha sat defeatedly on the sofa… sobbing uncontrollably…
Sameer frowned and turned towards her… “Wait… who her?” he met Ayesha’s red eyes…
“The woman for whom you leave early morning and come late night, jiske saath dinner kar lete ho... jiske liye tum sab kuch bhool jaate ho… Who is the new woman in your life Sam? Who the bl**dy hell is she! Jiske liye you have even stopped touching me!” Ayesha buried her face in her palms and howled…
Sameer looked at her.. shocked… how could she think of this! Infidelity! That ticked off his fuse…
He grabbed her hand and pulled her close… “Damn it Ayeshu… do you think I could have an affair with anyone? Damn you!” he gritted through his teeth… his eyes blazing with anger…
He was so close that he could see every separate eyelashes of Ayesha… his breath fanned against her tear stricken cheeks…
“You have left me with no choice…” Ayesha whispered…
“Is this what you think about me Ayesh? Don’t you know you are the first and last woman to walk into my life? How dare you accuse me of infidelity!” He barked at her and she closed her eyes…
Ayesha turned to look at his raged eyes with equal intensity…
“What else do I think of Sameer! You are barely home… and.. we.. barely touch each other… as if we are strangers… we don’t even sit together on the sofa… you always take the opposite side of the sofa… whenever you sleep there’s a pillow amidst us… you have become so distant Sameer! It makes me feel scared… that why have you stopped touching me… it means that you have lost the interest in me.. or I have have lost the spark… it scares me… cause even if this goes away there is nothing left on our marriage to cling on! Okay I know I am not beautiful as others… but… I thought you loved me… par… nahi… I’ve forgotten what it is to be touched, felt, kissed and caressed by you… ” Ayesha cried bitterly…
Sameer studied her beautiful face… did she think she was not beautiful? How could she? She was the most beautiful woman he had seen in his life! From her dusky features to the gazelle like eyes and the perfect soft plump lips ; she was the most beautiful woman he had seen in his entire life… and not from the outside but also from the inside…
“I know it Sam that you don’t love…” her sharp words stabbed him in his heart and he punched his hand on the wall right next to her…
“How dare you think of this… how dare you… there is no one in this world that I could love more than you… and I’m not interested in you? If I make love to you will you believe I love you?” He watched her eyes shoot up to his… a puzzled expression…
Ayesha nodded no… “No need to force thi…” she was cut off…
“No! I want you… you get that? And having s*x with my wife wouldn’t be a forced thing... ” he growled at her and sealed his lips with hers… ignorant of the tears that fell by…
He hoisted her in his arms and took her to their bedroom… his lips not leaving hers for a second… she was irresistible… she was his wife… he loved her till his last breath… it was just that he used to be too tired to say anything… Ayesha struggled and tried to get off Sameer but his grip was iron tight… she couldn’t take this…
She was scared that she wanted him so much… that she would melt into him soon enough…
And that is what exactly happened… the minute she felt him without a hint of fabric in between she let loose of every defence and succumbed to her feelings… and his anger…
He was hard… rough… yet she knew that perhaps he loved her…
A groan left his mouth when he watched her dazed eyes and her nails frantically clutch onto his shoulders whenever he made her his own… his lips were on a beautiful assault on her…
She moaned as the climax hit her… and burst into tears of joy and grief… at the same time… she took in deep breaths… wishing for him to slow down…
She didn’t want this… just if he held her hand and hugged her once… and said I love you… and promise to come home early… that’s all she wanted… but he misinterpreted it as her physical desire for him…
No doubt it was killing her to see him a few inches away… yet sleep as if she never existed…
But then previously too they hadn’t been much of a physical couple… yet while sleeping a hand would be wrapped around hers… or his arm would be flung around her waist… while she would just look at his sleeping face…
She’s dragged away from her thoughts when Sameer holds one of her cheeks and turns her almost stoic face towards him…
“Look at me…” his ragged voice whispered… her eyes locked against his tensed eyes… flicks of hair falling in front of his forehead….
She just wanted him to hug her… and… that’s it… not this… not this… and certainly not the way he’s taking her… but then the part of her that was craving for him refused her to stop him…
Her breath hitches as he angles her face and gives her another bruising deep kiss… her hands are almost tired and wary of holding him… she was exhausted… she closed her eyes… she gives up on responding…
She knew that he wasn’t loving her… he was just proving it to her… just proving… it was almost as if a lion was let loose…
It wasn’t lovemaking… it was a fight… argument , proving he loved her… not knowing that he hurt her more in the process…
She tried to take breath as she felt her blood gushing into her head… making her giddy…
As she was shattering and blacking out she felt him shudder , groan… collapse on her and slip beside her… panting hard… the two were quiet for a few seconds… Ayesha was still shivering… trying to wet her dry throat…
Tears ran out of her eyes…
Sameer closed his eyes for a second… taking in a deep breath… when he turned his face to look at Ayesha he saw the tears that rolled by…
He licked away her tears and pulled her close… he missed this… he loved her… she meant everything to him… why couldn’t he ever say so? Had work become so important for him that he missed out on the only person who made his world complete?
After taking in a few deep breaths he held her bare shoulders and beckoned her to come close…
Ayesha immediately flung her arms around his neck and half sobbed… hugging him as tightly as possible…
She just needed a hug…
He recalled her outburst and thought how broken she was… all she wanted was love… was a little attention… couldn’t he give this much? He ruffled her curly mane and half smiled as she hugged him tighter with every passing seconds…
Something told him that… perhaps he hurt her more… but then didn’t he love her? He proved it to her that he loves her… right?
Hugging her bare body tighter against him till he could feel her hammering heart… he decided to confess his love again tomorrow morning…
He would be the perfect husband… the perfect father… her best friend… her ideal lover… he wouldn’t disappoint her again…
Never…
~*~
Chapter 4
“Bye Sir!” Sakshi waved at Arjun as Chahat waved both her chubby hands towards her baba…
Arjun skipped out of the SUV and picked his baby and kissed her face several times till Chaahat giggled and kissed her father back… nuzzling a little into his baby’s soft stomach as Chaahat rewarded him with sloppy wet kisses Arjun went back into his car…
He half waved at Sakshi… a small smile lingered on his lips… especially when Chaahat wrapped her arms around Sakshi’s neck… signaling that she wants to sleep…
The two now shared a unique relationship…
Arjun still kept on feeding Chaahat whenever he was at home… however Sakshi used to help him in making the formula milk, Cerelac or serving the baby foods in a bowl…
If Chaahat was up then Sakshi too used to exercise using the weights… seeing Chaahat alternatedly…
As he drove the car his mind was more stuck to Miss. Anand rather than his baby…
Surprising…
He remembered the way she challenged him when they were talking about exercise..
“Tum aur exercise?” Arjun laughed as an annoyed Sakshi looked at him…
The tum’s had taken the place of aap during their conversation…
“Sir! Tumhe pata nahi hai ki main kaunsi khet ki muli hoon!” Sakshi wriggled her eyebrows making Chaahat laugh…
“Yeh dekho… iss baat pe meri Chau bhi hasni lagi… main kya manunga!” Arjun joked…
“Race ho jaaye?” Sakshi challenged…
Arjun kept his hands on his hips… “Sure… waise ek minute… I’ll keep a walkie talkie and camera near Chau so as to we get to know about her…” After setting up two set for running…
“On your marks… get set… go!” Arjun said and the two started running… to Arjun’s surprise Sakshi bolted off like lightning and defeated him in no time!
“My God! Kya bhaagti ho… obviously tumhe yeh cheez achi se hi hogi…” Arjun teased… panting as his baby looked at her two most favorite people…
Sakshi raised her eyebrow… asking for explanation…
“Arrey… tum toh asaani se kisi ka dimaag kha sakti ho… ab agar log tumhare peeche danda leke daure toh bhaagna asaan toh hoga na!” Arjun laughed… while Chaahat clapped her chubby hands…
“Baba ki chamchi!” Sakshi flared and walked off… pouting at the duo…
Arjun chuckled at her behavior… he didn’t know who was the baby at times…
I came back home early… I had forgotten a file… before leaving I decided to check on Chaahat and Sakshi as the home seemed silent… too silent…
As I walked into the room… to my surprise I found Sakshi dozing off to her glory as Chaahat was patting Sakshi’s head…
“Hein! Jamaila… yeh toh ulta case ho gaya!” I scratched my head… I peeped in… watching Chaahat being a mother to Sakshi.. while Sakshi held on to Chaahat like a baby… after a few minutes of patting her head Chaahat yawned and slipped next to Sakshi… her legs wrapped around Sakshi’s hand and fell asleep… her chubby cute fingers wrapped around Sakshi’s palm…
I almost stifled a laugh and walked in… draping the blanket over my daughter… no… two daughters!
I kissed Chaahat fondly… and stopped for a second further to pat Sakshi’s head… she was a baby indeed!
Arjun smiled at his life… though he was sure that Sakshi was indeed a quiet sort of a girl… it was only with Chaahat and Arjun that she used to be crazy… apart from that… if anyone else came she would be absolutely silent… and not let Chaahat part from her…
He remembered their conversation…
“Chai?” she forwarded the glass… he nodded… “Thanks…”
“Waise ek baat puchu?” Arjun asked…
“Yes Sir!” she smiled at she had her cup of milk…
“Tum Chau se itne connected kyun ho?” Arjun asked…
“Woh… simple si baat hai… I feel like a mother towards her…” Sakshi smiled and gave a big smile…
Arjun turned a little uncomfortable… her mother… meant… his wife…
“No sir not that way… you see I can’t be a mother… isliye whenever I see any child my heart goes to him or her…” Sakshi smiled back… yet tears filled her eyes…
Arjun frowned… she couldn’t be a mom?
He thought of saying something… that it’s fine or stuff… but he found himself at an awkward position… but when he saw her sobbing he held her palm in his… squeezing it a little… she looked into his eyes… the two shared an eyelock..
“It’s cool sir… waise I must say… aapne toh Hrithik ko complex dene waali body banayi hai! By God agar haath main koi female mujrim aa gayi… uski toh nikal padi!” Sakshi laughed… diverting the topic… wiping her tears…
She went near his Chau and played with her chubby cheeks…
Arjun just smiled at the woman in front…
A smile lingered on his lips as he recalled a few embarrassing moments between them…
I had reached home early… yet again…
Chau was sitting in her cradle… giggling…
“Majhe chutki… teri Sakshi kuthe ahe? I plucked her fluffy cheeks…
“Naan…” Chau told me… her hands waving in air…
“Naan? Yeh naya word kaha se aaya… theek hai… cool…” I said and walked into the open bathroom…
“Chalo bacha ab main nahane jaa raha hoon…” I kissed her cheeks and removed my shirt, belt, pant and socks… walking towards the bathroom with only my boxers I stepped into the shower…
I ignored my baby’s gagu… gogo.. babababbbb…
“Main abhi aaya bacha!” I said…
The shower was off - as usual… and the bathroom was steamy… perhaps Sakshi had just taken a bath…
I threw my boxers aside and gently shut the door… not entirely in case my baby called me...
It was when I pulled the curtain aside and stepped in my eyes turned as big as saucepans seeing Sakshi inside!
And me being a man I couldn’t help but take a quick look of hers; top to bottom.… covered in nothing… but shower gel froth.. (Thank God - izzat bach gayi [;)] )
“AAAAAHHHH….” Sakshi screamed…
And I immediately put my hand in front… oh shoot… amidst seeing her in close to… ahem… nothingness I seemed to have forgotten my own… ahem… nudity! (khud ka bhi izzat bachale! [;)] )
And then Sakshi too looked shocked and covered herself with the shower curtain…
I guess seeing me… close… to… ahem… nothingness… made her forget… of… her own… nudity…
Yikes!
“Dddon’t ww… wworr… worry….” I spoke up embarrassed…
“DON’T WORRY! YOU HAVE SEEN ME AS NAKED AS CHAU IS DURING HER BATH TIME AND DON’T WORRY! YOU HAVE SEEN ME TOP TO BOTTOM...AND YOU BESHARAM BEHAYA… YOU WERE STARING AT ME!!!” She shrieked…
“Shut up Sakshi and stop screaming okay! Main besharam… you too were staring at me! I mean… before I put my hand in front…” I put my defence…
“Chee chee chee!!! I only saw your face okay! You checked me out!” Sakshi spoke exasperated!
“See… Sakshi… you were covered with enough froth… so I didn’t see much of your front… trust me!” I lied through my teeth…
“Sachi?” she said softly… peeping out from the shower curtain… and I had tucked a black towel around me…
“Muchi!” I lied again…
Okay… I did get to see her… but most of it was froth… so thankfully I didn’t see her totally…
But… I did… see… some… ahem… but I didn’t want to give her a heart attack!
“Move aside… I want to take a shower…” I told her and saw her mortified face…
Oh sh*t… the way I said… it meant…
Seeing her crimson face something told me her imagination was perhaps… was she getting mental images of us?
And to my shock I found myself imagining some convoluted images… but… yikes… that had very little resemblance with shower… oh sh*t Rawte ! What are you thinking! Sakshi ki chakkar main tera bhi band bajne waala hai!
“Not together!” I tried to clarify seeing her almost crying…
“Mummaa!!!” she wailed…
“What happened!” I asked in shock…
“You saw me nangu pangu… now now now… boohoo…” Sakshi cried…
“Sakshi… I didn’t see you nangu ot pungu… you see… I had closed my eyes… shut! Trust me!” I lied…
Sakshi peered at me… I peered back at her…
“AB KHADE KHADE MUH KYA DEKH RAHI HO… NIKLO!!!” She barked at me and I ran off…
I came out wrapped in just a towel… with Chaahat closing her eyes… so this little devil knew everything and yet let me go to the bathroom!
I picked my baby up and pouted at her… “Tu!!” I tickled her…
WhenI saw Sakshi come out in a bathrobe… her face in bright pink and run away!!!
“Agug gu…” Chau chuckled…
I hit my own head in embarrassment…
Arjun laughed again… okay seeing a lady in a shower would be something wow… but then if he was a bachelor… and oh God… these are terrible thoughts… he prayed that Sakshi never got to know that he… did… see… a bit… Oh Lord… but hey… wasn’t she gaping at him!
“Arrey… I forgot that file! Kya Arjun… kaha kho gaya re tu!” Arjun chuckled and drove back home…
As he stepped in he knew that either Sakshi would be snoring to glory with Chaahat looking after her… or the two ladies would be dozing off!
But when he heard music he frowned and walked towards his room…
And the sight in front was shocky!
He tiptoed into his room and saw Sakshi performing before Chaahat… wearing his shirt!
Engine ki seeti te maaro bum dole!
Engine ki seeti te maaro bum dole!
She swayed her hips and shimmied a little… shaking her hips left and right…
Her back was towards the door as Chaahat was sitting on the bed and trying to imitate Sakshi…
She looked like a tiny baby in his shirt!
As she spun around she saw a highly amused Arjun staring at her…
“Jamaila!” Sakshi screeched!
“Agugu.. gogoi!” Chaahat cheered… dancing on the bed…
He raised his eyebrows at her… Sakshi switched off her iPhone and removed it from the dock… giving a sheepish smile…
“Nice shirt…” Arjun teased her… and Sakshi turned as red as his shirt…
“Sir… mmm…. main dho ke de dungi… pakka promise!” Sakshi smiled… Arjun shook his head…
“Waise kya hua ki Chau ke saamne yeh paagalon… I mean tumhare tareeke ka dance karna tha!” Arjun smirked…
Sakshi gave a haww look…
“Woh actually Chaahat na slip ho gayi thi bathtub main toh uske sar pe laga… zyaada zor se nahi… par woh ro rahi thi na… isliye usse hasaane ke liye yeh sab… but I sav… ” her voice was cut off as she found Arjun glaring at her… he went near his baby and checked the little wound near her head… he cuddled and kissed his child till she chuckled back…
“Khupa dukhapata ahe… (hurting a lot) majhe Chau?” he kissed her forehead tenderly till she hugged her father assuring him of her health…
He kept Chau on the cradle and turned menacingly towards Sakshi…
“What did you say?” he asked icily…
Sakshi’s fingers turned cold as the amicableness was replaced by a hardcore man’s look..
Is this how ACP Rawte looked?
He walked towards her…
Sakshi started stumbling backwards… “Haan… woh… thoda… thoda chot… zyaada nahi… woh theek hai…” she mumbled when he banged his left hand right next to her face… Sakshi stopped breathing for a second and closed her eyes shut…
“HOW THE HELL DID SHE GET HURT! YOU WERE THERE RIGHT!!” Arjun yelled at Sakshi making her knees wobble in fear… he was a very possessive father…
Sakshi was pinned to the wall… he gripped her arm tight and shook her…
“Aankhein kholo!” he barked at her… Sakshi opened her eyes… fury and rage were written on them…
“Sir… sir… it was an accident… mm.. mmm… maine … dd.. davai.. d.. di…” Her words were shushed as he placed a rough finger on her lips…
“Miss Sakshi Anand… you are there to look after her right! Tum itni laparwa kaisi ho sakti ho!” He screamed at her…
“S..s...ss.. sorry ss… sir…” Sakshi said softly… tears brimming near her eyes as he gripped her tighter…
“Sorry! SHE IS A WEAK CHILD! WOH MARR SAKTI THI!” Arjun barked at her…
“Ss.. sir! I wouldn’t let her die! Ss… sorry… ” Sakshi folded her palms… Arjun threw her palms aside and neared her dangerously… scaring Sakshi to the core… hot tears filled her eyes… she turned her face sidewards… as she felt his hot breath fanning on her cheek…
“JUST BECAUSE TUM KHUD MAA NAHI BAN SAKTI AUR YEH BACHI TUMHARI NAHI HAI IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU BECOME IRRESP…” His words were caught up as he saw Sakshi flick her gaze towards him… her face mortified…
Arjun staggered back… he caught his mouth with his palm… Sakshi looked at him… hurt flickered in those big eyes as tears gushed through them… her jaws turned rigid… she clutched the curtain tightly…
He opened his mouth to say something…
“Sakshi I didn’t…” Arjun started but before he could continue Sakshi left the room… howling…
He held her arm and dragged her towards him… she tried to push him off…
He held her tightly… his nose rubbed her head… “I am sorry… I didn’t mean it… sorry” he whispered…
Wrapped up in his arms, a very hurt Sakshi turned towards Arjun… continuous tears dripped from her big eyes…
She nodded negatively… their noses touching…. “No… don’t be… tumne sach hi toh kaha hai… main maa toh kabhi ban hi nahi sakti… aur mujhe kya farak parta hai Chau se… mera bacha toh kabhi nahi ayega… so I don’t know how it is to feel… you are right…” Sakshi replied… more tears flowed by… her nose turned pink…
Arjun held her shaking head… “Please Sakshi… I am really sorry… am very sorry…” he closed his eyes… he rested his forehead on hers… he held on to her petite body tightly… mumbling sorry when his mouth was covered by her soft palm… he opened his eyes to see a shattered Sakshi in front…
“No… tum theek ho… you are right…” Sakshi said hurt… she dropped her palm away from his mouth… her chest falling rapidly as she tried to control her tears… she pushed him aside and ran into her room…
He sprinted before her… but she banged the door right on his face…
“Sakshi… Sakshi…” Arjun called her… but she kept quiet and cried out loudly…
“Rawte… Kaha ho? Commissioner sir bula rahe hai… come immediately…” Rathore called Arjun suddenly…
Arjun cursed… on one side he had to go for a meeting… on the other side he had to apologize to Sakshi… he quickly took his file… as he went into for nature’s call he noticed something red at the edge of the baby tub…
Before leaving he knocked on her door… “Sakshi… main Chau ko tumhare darwaaze ke saamne rakh raha hoon… I am sorry Sakshi… please…” he tapped on the door… but it was locked…
Arjun left… he decided that when he would come back he would make it up to her…
~*~
Chapter 5
Bright sunlight streamed through the cream georgette curtains… Sameer squeezed his eyes further… he shrugged his shoulders… a sense of calmness, peace and contentment filled him… after years it felt as if he didn’t care about anything…
A soft sweet yet exotic fragrance filled his lungs… as he moved his fingers slightly he felt warm silk soft skin beneath his fingertips…
As he came further into awareness he opened his eyes… to see a dazed Ayesha clutching him tightly… her eyes were open… but they seemed so still that they almost looked like glass eyes… then she shut her eyes… breathing in softly…
A soft smile appeared on his lips… he turned slightly towards her… as one hand was wrapped around her bare waist , he took his free hand and caressed her face gently…
The smile barely left his face… he loved his Ayesha… he hoped that she would realize that…
He pecked her forehead and sat up on the bed… to see that Ayesha had woken up… but she turned aside… he thought she was still upset…
Ayesha fumbled with the edge of the blanket… not knowing his mind… not knowing anything… she heard Sameer shuffle his feet…
She saw him slip on his pants and come towards her side…
“Good Morning Ayesha…” he said softly… but Ayesha just nodded…
“Office ja rahe ho.. khana laga ti hoon…” she mumbled and was about to get up when Sameer interrupted her…
“Wait… main office nahi jaa raha hoon aaj…” Sameer said… a frown formed… she looked at him… and scratched her head…
“Par main jaa rahi hoon…” She said quietly…
Draping the blanket around herself she walks into the bathroom…
Sameer stands uncomfortably… why is she quiet?
He shrugs his shoulder… he went to the other bathroom and freshened up quickly…
In the bathroom…
Ayesha sunk herself in a hot bath… and broke into tears…
If this is how he would love and touch her… she would be happier alone… not once did he take her name… and never in his life was he so harsh with her…
She wiped her tears away… the little bites stung a little but she didn’t care…
“Kyun Sam tumhe samaj nahi aaya ki main waqt chahti thi tumhare saath? I didn’t want this…” Ayesha said…
She just wanted a promise… is that so difficult to understand? If not infidelity what else could she say…
Ayesha didn’t know what to do… she knew he loved her… but she didn’t want him to prove it…
She fumbled with her fingers… on one side she wanted to forget everything and start fresh… but on the other side she knew that she had been misinterpreted… she needed Sameer to understand what she meant…
Ayesha sighed… she didn’t know what to do… she really didn’t know…
after a few minutes…
“Ayesha? Aa gayi?” Sameer called as he saw a slightly dazed Ayesha take a few slow steps…
“Hmm…” she said…
Sameer didn’t let his smile falter as he saw Ayesha wearing a pale black shirt and a simple formal pant… her hair was barely combed… her face devoid of any makeup… just the little pinch on vermillion on the middle parting of her hair…
He decided to cheer her up… though he couldn’t fathom why she was so quiet…
“Guess what? Aaj maine khana banaya hai… I know it’s terrible… mere cooking skills kitne famous hai yeh mera bhai already bata chuka hai I guess…” Sameer smiled…
Ayesha half smiled… her gaze near the little plate…
Sameer scratched his head… “Yeh lo…” he said softly…
Ayesha took the half burnt aloo paratha and curd…
A true smile crept up her lips as she broke the first piece of paratha…
It meant so much for her…
“Acha hai…” Ayesha said… Sameer nodded… eating along with her… he spoke about news, cases to which Ayesha nodded…
He washed the dishes…
As they went towards the office… Sameer was scared by her silence… he didn’t realize what went wrong…
“Aaj ya kal Aamir ko pick up karein?” Sameer asked…
“Tumhari marzi…” Ayesha replied… her gaze at the cars which passed by…
“Ashu… sab kuch theek toh hai na?” Sameer kept his palm on hers which she took back immediately… “Hmmm…” she replied…
Sameer frowned and drove the car… they were once again enveloped in silence…
~*~
Sakshi cried in her room… she remembered Arjun saying that he left Chau outside her room…
She wiped her tears and peeped out of her room…
Not seeing anyone she took in a deep breath… when she heard a cry…
Chau was raising her arms towards Sakshi… she was petrified of being alone…
“cha...cha...cha…” Chau looked at Sakshi…
Sakshi’s heart broke to pieces… she immediately took Chau up her arms…
“Nahi bacha… meri jaan… meri ladli… meri bachi…” Sakshi took a crying Chau into her embrace… Chau snuggled into Sakshi’s warm embrace… she quietened hearing Sakshi pampering her… she rested her bobbing head on Sakshi’s chest… hearing a strange rhythmic sound…
She pulled her head back and looked at Sakshi in surprise…
“Kya hua Chau?” Sakshi smiled… wiping the tear stricken cheeks of Chau… Chau pondered for a second…
She decided to imitate the noise… “Dhuludhuludhulu….” Chau said animatedly…
“Dhu lu dhu lu? Kuthe?” Sakshi asked Chau… by now she had picked up on a few words of marathi…
Chau smiled… she placed her little head on Sakshi’s head…
“Idha..dhuludhuludhulu…” Chau smiled… placing her tiny palm over Sakshi’s heart…
Tears swam into Sakshi’s eyes… she hugged Chaahat tightly…
She didn’t care what Arjun told to her… she loved Chau as if she was her own daughter…
Chaahat looked at Sakshi and touched her cheeks… she then touched Sakshi’s hair… her palms going all over Sakshi’s face…
“Haan shonu baby…” Sakshi smiled… tickling the child…
“Annannaa….” Chau said…
Sakshi nodded… carrying Chaahat in one arm… Sakshi took the contents and mixed it into a bowl…
She never sat on the counter… she sat on the floor… on the rug…
As she fed Chaahat Cerelac and a little bit of baby food containing mashed fruits, Chaahat giggled and tumbled on the rug… to be safely caught in Sakshi’s arms…
“Bacha! Abhi toh Arjun se daat khayi.. aur daat dena chahti hai kya?” Sakshi told her… feeding her the last morsel…
“Bababababab?” Chau asked Sakshi in surprise…
“Haan… tere baba ne daata… par mujhe uss baat k dukh nahi hai… woh acha baba hai aur daantna uska haq hai… par uske baad… he shouldn’t have said that you know…” Sakshi said sadly… tears falling off her eyes…
Chaahat stared at Sakshi… she couldn’t see her favorite person crying… and why was she crying?
Chaahat became scared… she heard her baba yell… now Sakshi was crying…
And before Sakshi realized Chaahat started howling… Chau became petrified to see tears on Sakshi’s eyes…
Chau started crying and started crawling…
Sakshi looked at Chau horrified…
She picked up the tiny baby and hugged her…
“Nahi baby… kyun ro rahe ho… kyun bacha?” she cradled Chau as she tried to wipe Sakshi’s tears…
Sakshi’s heart froze as she understood that Chau was crying for her…
She flung her tiny arms around Sakshi’s neck…
~*~
He frowned… he loved her like crazy last night… yet why is she flinching away from him?
“Ayesha baat kya hai… saara din gumsum thi…” Sameer looked into Ayesha’s eyes…
She looked at him… and finally spoke up… “I didn’t like the way you touched me last night… ” her voice croaked out… that’s when his gaze went to the deep bites on her neck…
Oh God… he’s an idiot… he was rough, wild and painful…
“I wish you hadn’t slept with me at all… I can tolerate your silence… not… not…” Ayesha walked away…
“Oh God Ayesha! I am sorry love.. I… I just didn’t know…” Sameer held her hand but she shrugged it off “Do I have to state it in words Sameer that what I need is time from you! Bas thoda sa waqt chahti thi… but no yeh kaam woh kaam duniya ka koi na koi kaam aata hi rehta hai right!” Ayesha snapped back, losing the sense of control.
“Toh main saara din ghar main baitha rahoon kya! I mean what’s wrong if I am little late Ayesha!” Sameer ran his hands through his hair “Little? Oh yeah… sure… “little” late! Sameer, were you even sure about this marriage in the first place! Tum toh isse handle bhi nahi kar paa rahe ho!” Ayesha sighed and sat on the chair.
“Listen, never did I expect you to turn into a full proof housewife okay! I liked that feisty Ayesha! Yeh nahi jo ghar pe din bhar beithi rahe! For you it’s always your son! Maa toh ban gayi tum par patni banna bhool hi gayi! Sometimes I wish I was a bachelor!” Sameer banged the door and left.
Ayesha was quiet with what Sameer said. She took a deep breath and tried to collect her tears, no more tears. She dialed Sakshi and waited for her to pick up.
~*~
“Haa meri princess, phir pata hai… uss rajkumar ne… wait a sec.” Sakshi paused the little story to a Chau who seemed busy in fiddling with the necklace “Ya Ashu di… oye.. ki hoya… Didi… all’s well na? Wait, why’s your voice… please take care jaan… jiju… uski toh main… no! What do you mean by I won’t tell him anything! I will blast his head off! Kasam mat de tu… okay now di… you know what? Take a deep breath and try to calm your nerves. Enough of you being Mrs. Rathore and Aamir’s mom, it’s time to be Ayesha again di. Ghar basate basate kahi na kahi aapne apne aap ko bhi kho diya hai! Chalo… we will go shopping today okay! And no excuses, arrey about my gochu jaan e mann, she toh will come with me, hai na princess?” Sakshi smiled as Chau gurgled.
“Love you Di, bye…” Sakshi sighed and strapped Chau on herself. According to rules she sent a message to Arjun stating that she will be out for two hours with Chau and surprisingly a sms came right back.
“No issues, but Sakshi… i really am sorry.” it read.
Sakshi just didn’t reply. While on the other hand Arjun kept fighting off his guilt.
~*~
“Sakshi! Are you serious! I am not going to wear these underwear! And sachi! I mean… yeh sab ki kharidaari kya zaroorat hai yaar!” Ayesha hit her head as her crazy sister placed lacy lingerie ranging from scarlet to black in the trolly. “Oh baby Ash… you need to look sexy yaar!” Sakshi smirked while Ayesha hit her head!
“Chau ke saamne ye sab mat bola kar at least! And yeah, for once… please tell me why are you acting Fairy Godmother like for a Cinderella like me!” Ayesha raised her eyebrow as Sakshi selected a few push up and plunge bras while Ayesha swore at them. “Sakshi I am not in a honeymoon that you should buy such innerwear! And thongs! Seriously don’t tell me to go around seducing my husband after being a mother of a three year old!” Ayesha poked Sakshi to get her attention.
“My dearest love Ayesha, that’s the issue. Har baar sab kuch Sameer ke liye nahi hota hai. Can’t you buy racy and luxurious stuff for yourself. Don’t you feel confident of yourself? You might have put on slight weight after Aamir, but trust me sweetheart you have become more beautiful after that! Ayesha, iss duniya main agar kisiko impress aur seduce karna ho toh woh tum khud ho! Look at you, you have turned all demure and plain. Kyun? Just because Sam jiju is busy? For whom you should do this? For yourself babe! Feel fabulous and love yourself? Mere chote (aamir) bhi tujhse pyaar kaise karega jab uski mom apne aap se mohabbat nahi karti! Today you are going to throw every bit of those plain shirts and jeans in the dustbin. Agreed you work in the ETF, but trust me you can look fabulous over there. Yeh yaad rakho ki Sam jiju is with you and you with him because you love him. If there’s any person in the world you need and desire the most - it’s you yourself! You get my words don’t you?” Sakshi said softly while Ayesha nodded faintly.
“What would I do without you Sakshi?” Ayesha whispered “I won’t go anywhere di…” Sakshi smiled back.
After what seemed like an hour Ayesha and Sakshi did a hell of a lot shopping and that alleviated Ayesha’s spirit to a huge extent. Ayesha mused at the number of check bright shirts, sleeveless tops and skinny jeans. Even her nightwear was changed from the uncomfortable nighties to cute boxers and loose shirts.
“Naaash…” Chau repeated as Sakshi said “Nice!” Ayesha gazed at them with tenderness when Sakshi stood up “Idea!” “Idd...dd..dee…” Chau tried to say and then burst into laughter looking at Sakshi’s amused face. “Bas re meri maa, mujhe bolne to de, Ayesha - you are heading to a hair salon.. as simple as that! Enough of simple straight hair… go back to your natural curls and yeah, colour your hair to dark chestnut brown!” Sakshi gleed and didn’t even heed to Ayesha’s protests.
At last Sakshi had to resolve to emotional blackmailing using Chau too and Ayesha being a true mother couldn’t refuse when Chau too pouted. She tapped the edge of her fingers, and looked at the mirror once everything was done.
Her mouth hung open as she looked at the Ayesha who stared back, in fact she looked like the early twenty’s Ayesha who had just joined the force.
Tears blurred her vision as she gingerly stepped into a black tank top and skinny jeans. For a second she marvelled at herself and she didn’t realise how beautiful she looked. She bunched her hair into a horsetail, letting a few ringlets caress her face, her breath stopped as she waited for Sakshi to say something.
Chau looked at her amazed! She immediately kissed Ayesha’s cheeks in approval whereas Sakshi just stood in her place with a soft smile curving up her lips. She held Ayesha’s shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze. “Bahar se main tujhe badal sakti hoon ti, par ander se sirf tu hi tera saath de sakti hai… forget Sam jiju ever existed as your husband. Forget you are a wife… yes a mother you shall always remain… but just don’t forget the woman in you who deserves to be loved by herself!” Sakshi whispered and hugged Ayesha tightly before leaving.
Sakshi laughed to herself as she saw her sister collecting up to become the wild and ferocious Ayesha she was once. Sameer jiju would never know what hit him!
~*~
“Sam bhai? Baat kya hai? You seem in a fowl mood!” Arjun nudged his brother who seems engrossed in a case file. “Nothing, just Ayesha! I mean… I dunno man… kabhi kabaar na Arjun… i feel as if everything is slipping away from my hands and at times I feel guilty for being stupid, I know motherhood is a huge responsibility…” Sameer was interrupted by Arjun.
“Yeah bhai but it isn’t only the responsibility of a mother is it? Main tabse notice kar raha hoon that you and bhabi have a friction… and bhai… woh toh maa ban gayi… par tu baap kab banega? Just playing with your baby is not enough… there are various responsibilities of a father too and… a.. aa…” Arjun stammered and Sam nodded guiltily and then realised Arjun was stammering.
“Arjun kya hua? Tera muh khula kyun hai?” Sameer chuckled when one word came out of Arjun’s mouth… “Bhabi?” he gulped.
Sameer frowned and realised that every person in the department, especially males were staring at a figure on the door, Sameer would have seriously not have recognised her had she not come and hugged Liza as a greeting.
And his eyes popped out “Ayesha!” his voice was hoarse. Where had the trousers and loose shirts gone? She was standing in a pair of skinny jeans and flat boots, a thin tank tap which defined her curves and a short coat/jacket on her.
For a second he didn’t even bother that he was gaping at his wife. “Muh band kar le…” Arjun whispered and wished a hi to Ayesha.
It hadn’t taken him two and two to figure out why his bhabi dear and Sakshi were busy for a few hours in the morning. “ Good morning guys, sorry am late… waise ab ke liye I got some reports regarding the latest deal near Wadaala, mujhe lagta hai ki waqai waha pe kuch gadbad hone jaa rahi hai, in fact if we refer to the previous deal… Sam, woh fifth file zara pass kar dena.” Ayesha asked, posing to be ignorant to him staring at her.
A flush of heat passed through her, but it was pride which swelled her heart. “Jawaab de!” Arjun nudged “Ayesha! Yeh… kya hai?” he asked, eyeing her clothes.
Shree, Liza and Chotu tried to hide a chuckle while Ayesha raised an eyebrow “Yeh kapde hai… well that’s the last I remember about it…” she smiled extra sugar sweetly and snatched the file.
Sameer was awestruck with her for the whole day. She… just looked like the day when she entered the ETF office. Fiesty, wild, hot and gorgeous… she had blown away Sameer from day one.
Hmm, was this her way of changing things! That’s great! Sameer was glad he found his wife back!
However Ayesha had other plans, instead of guilt when she saw him happy because he thought she is doing this for him, she chuckled inwardly, he was so far from the truth. Arjun on the other hand was engrossed in the case, and also thinking as to how to apologise to Sakshi.
~*~
A week had gone by with Ayesha in her new avatar and Sameer kept on feeling happy, yet a part of him missed the homely and soft Ayesha, the Ayesha who would look up to him, the Ayesha who would be ecstatic on finding him home early, but now it felt as if he made no difference for her.
Sameer came back home a little extra early to find Ayesha roaming around the kitchen in boxers and an extra loose shirt which slid slightly from one shoulder, revealing a black strap. “Hey…” Sameer smiled and Ayesha curtly nodded “Hi, dinner ke liye am cooking biryani, what say?” she asked.
He checked his wife out in again a not so impish manner and grinned “Perfect!” He smiled and tried to speak to her but she outrightly ignored him. She walked past him and went to her son, and for the first time as she cooed and hugged her little child, Sameer found the love and care to be a beauty to watch.
“Mama you pitty!” Aamir kissed his mother’s cheeks who snuggled him tighter. Sameer’s smile dipped down as he watched her being a perfect mom but barely give him any attention.
While tucking into the biryani he clasped her hand and smiled “Thanks for changing and giving me my Ayesha back…” he smiled.
Ayesha gulped water extra hard at that and stared at him “Yeh maine tumhare liye nahi kiya Sam… I was tired of being a wife who was crazily in love with her husband, who misinterprets time to be sex! I didn’t change Sam, I just went back to being Ayesha Kapoor, when there was no Sameer Rathore who would sweep me off my feet and make me feel precious. Maine yeh sirf apne aap ke liye kiya, shayad main tumhare liye khubsoorat nahi hoon Sam, but according to me I am the most gorgeous thing in this world… and giving you back your wife? What about giving me back my husband Sameer?” Ayesha looked into his eyes, before Sameer could speak again Ayesha spoke
“I don’t want any sorry or redemption or guilt or anything such as that Sameer… mujhe aisa kuch bhi nahi chahiye… trust me… you wanted to know why I changed? Why I turned quiet… kyun? Then listen to me… when I first heard about Aamir I was ecstatic, pata hai kyun? Kyunki a part of you was breathing in me Sameer, I needed a hug from you… a gentle squeeze of reassurance… par… I got a shocked look on your face. In fact I had doubted if you even wanted him. Mere liye mera beta sabse precious kyun hai… because he is a symbol of the most precious man in my life. For he looks like the man I love the most. You know Aamir is a little reflection of you Sameer!” Ayesha spoke and Sameer’s eyes widened in realisation.
“I just wished things would be different… I just wished.” Ayesha gulped and cleaned the dishes while a quiet Sameer tip toed to his son’s room. How did he let these distances crop in?
I just went back to being Ayesha Kapoor, when there was no Sameer Rathore who would sweep me off my feet and make me feel precious.
These words swirled in his head. Repeatedly. Sameer was quiet. Did he truly not realise the value of the institution called marriage?
Ayesha walked past him and went to Aamir’s room. Sameer quietly took out Aamir’s birth album and stared at it. What was wrong if Ayesha had changed after being a mother? Sameer gulped as a tired Ayesha snuggled into their newborn. The soft smiles, the tenderness in her eyes…
Towards the last page he gaped as Ayesha had put his childhood’s and Aamir’s photo side by side. For they looked exactly the same!
Sameer clenched his jaws and walked quietly to their room to see Aamir dozing off to glory. He removed the wild curls aside from Aamir’s forehead, he had certainly inherited this from his mother! He gently picked his child and hugged him, Aamir surprised Sameer by changing his eagle styled position to a foetal one as he curled his hand around Sameer’s shirt.
Tu baap kab banega? Arjun’s question swirled in his head. Ever since day one Ayesha had kept on taking the first step in their relationship. She was extrovert and a wild one… but he always basked in the happiness that she was his, only his.
Sameer dialed his younger brother - Arjun. Even if he was years younger, he certainly had acquired more maturity than Sameer.
“Yeah bhai?” Arjun whispered, his voice cracked… guess he had been sleeping. “I need to speak to you, aa sakta hoon tere ghar?” Sameer asked “Uh… of course… aa jaa…” Arjun answered. Sameer took a deep breath and went to Arjun’s house.
~*~
Arjun stretched slightly and kept Chau in the cot gently. He tip toed towards Sakshi’s room and knocked on the door for quite a few minutes. He heard a quick shuffling of feet and a clatter of things. “Uh… Sir? Itni raat ko?” Sakshi’s voice sounded slightly hoarse and her hair was disheveled.
“Sorry, woh Bhai was coming up so I was going to be busy… just be next to Chau…” Arjun said and she groggily nodded. “She’s awake kya?” Sakshi yawned when he nodded no. “Okay” Sakshi stumbled a little and walked towards his room.
Arjun smiled a little when he saw her smile back at him, it had been a week since they had had that heart to heart conversation which had changed the perspectives each held for the other.
Arjun came back home earlier than usual and saw a tired Sakshi cradling his little baby as if Chau was her own little precious thing. The very thought that ate him up. He caught on to the little words “My little baby, my princess” as Sakshi stroked her hair while Chau was almost dozing, her chubby hands fisted on Sakshi’s tee shirt.
Arjun’s slight footsteps had got Sakshi alert, she kept Chau on her cot and immediately picked up a staff and stared at the person in front, relaxed that it was Arjun.
Arjun half smiled at her alertness then took a step closer. “Your child has gone to sleep, if there is anything else feel free to call me.” Sakshi said stiffly and walked towards her room when Arjun held her hand…
He pulled her close… “Aap… yeh kya kar rahe hai…” she turned aside… her senses shut off…
“I am an insecure person Sakshi… and Chau has been a weak spot of mine… please forgive me…” Arjun said softly…
As he tried to hold her from going away Sakshi looked at him… “Don’t touch me… what would your wife think!” Sakshi said angrily… she couldn’t bare him being so close to her…
His hold loosened… “Wife? I am divorced Sakshi… she ditched me Sakshi… she ditched her daughter… that’s why I can’t trust anyone about Chau…” Arjun said… hurt… Sakshi sat beside him… prodding him to open up…
“It was love at first sight for me, she was ethereal… I hadn’t intended on being an officer first… thus we both were in the same college of arts, however side by side I started taking trainings too. We both dashed against each other in college. As time passed by the dashes turned into smiles and coy gazes.” Arjun took a deep breath, a small smile lingering on his face.
“She was amazed that I was The Suryakant Rawte’s son, that sentence should have served as warning enough but I was too blind in love to realise. Very soon I found myself to be dating her, and then marriage came in perfectly. She was disappointed that I was not taking up Business and sought to join the service. She was almost angry for me not taking my father’s financial support. However we managed to have a decent life. Every weekend she used to go for shopping and spend thousands at a go. At the beginning I thought that perhaps she’s a newlywed hence these are little things I, as a husband, can do for her. Then we had Chau in our life… her habit of splurging increased all the more and I didn’t stop because I wanted her to be happiest during her pregnancy.” Arjun sighed, his fingers ran over the brim of the glass. He turned to see Sakshi in case her face had sympathy or disapproval of him being a weak man. He saw none “Phir?” she asked
“Phir kya, phir it was just a month since Chau’s delivery and I noticed her to be unusually calm and composed, and pretty jewels to be decorating her. That was strange, my cop instincts kicked in and I realised that she was having an affair with the gynaecologist who was treating her. I was aghast and shocked. I couldn’t believe she would do this, that too during the time that was most pious to a woman. My world shattered and when I saw no inch of regret on her face, I decided… I would leave her. She was a leech, a pure leech, in fact that gynaecologist was a millionaire who had many firms in and outside India too, no guesses why she left a cop for this. With dad’s help we divorced as soon as possible. She was least bothered about me, in fact when I told her that I would take the custody of our Chaahat, she seemed happy enough! And that’s it… I never saw her again…” Arjun gritted his teeth.
“I don’t know why Sakshi, kyun… kya pyaar kuch nahi hota? Kya paisa sab kuch hota hai?” Arjun broke the edge of the glass as Sakshi ran to get first aid, she gently took the glass piece aside and looked at his torn face “No Sir, kabhi kabaar hum mohabbat ek alag insaan se kar beith the hai jo humari mohabbat ko deserve nahi karta. You might have loved her… it’s your trait that you are a wonderful human being… you certainly didn’t deserve someone like her…” Sakshi said softly. Arjun half smiled at that and watched how she quietly put the band aid on him…
“I am sorry Sakshi… pata nahi kyun woh gussa tumpe utar aaya… I am just so sorry… if you could forgive me.” Arjun looked aside in shame when Sakshi placed her palm slightly on his chest. “Yaha se if you are feeling sorry, then I forgive you Arjun…” Sakshi said softly, completely missing out the fact that Arjun had become stoic. She got up and left, with that Arjun released the breath he hadn’t even realised he was holding on.
And for the first time since months… his heart thumped a little harder.
Arjun checked to see Sakshi dozing off the minute she hit the bed, with of course, Chau clinging on to her as if she’s the mother… Arjun stopped his thoughts right at that. Gulping some fresh air, he waited for Sameer to come.
~*~
“Bhai?” that’s all Arjun could muster to say after Sameer had opened up about what all was happening in his home. Sameer shifted his eyes in guilt when he saw his younger brother almost glaring at him.
“Do you know something Bhai, you and Bhabi have no reason to have done this to your beautiful relationship… kyun Bhai? I mean kyun?” Arjun threw his hands up, exasperated.
“I am sorry Arjun, I just want to get back things to normal…” Sameer sighed. “Don’t tell me sorry… and wait.. I think there is something you must see.” Arjun grumbled and ran to his room to get his laptop.
He paused a little near Sakshi and Chau. his heart warmed as they snuggled next to each other. His brain told him not to get hopes up high, but the silly random heart pushed him further.
He took his laptop and looked at a moping Sameer and sat next to him. Within the next ten minutes Sameer’s face had whitened and he was almost shaking. Arjun had done nothing, just showed him a few videos of what actually happens during live birth.
Tears glistened in Sameer’s eyes as he took in what happened, Arjun squeezed his shoulders in understanding. “Bhai, you don’t need to give her flowers or give her chocolates and gifts, you just need to hold her hand and tell her you will be with her forever and after.” Arjun said softly.
He kept his palm on Sameer’s heart and said “Yaha se if you are feeling sorry, then she forgive you” Arjun told Sameer who nodded.
A visibly shaky Sameer nodded and left towards his house, thanking Arjun profusely.
Arjun half smiled at his brother, his heart squeezing further at their family photo. If he got a chance to love again… life would be blissful.
~*~
Sameer sat on the edge of the pale blue bed of Aamir’s, caressing the little tendrils of Ayesha’s that disturbed her every now and then.
Did he take her for granted? All she ever needed was time and love, if he couldn’t even give this… then why the hell did he even marry her? She blessed him with a loving child and he got enraged that she couldn’t give him time for Aamir? Had he forgotten that Aamir contained his blood? How could he be jealous of the being who was a part of him!
Sameer sighed and looked at Ayesha who slept with frown on her forehead. Even though she was less than a metre apart, he knew that now there was a huge chasm amidst them - and he is to be blamed for that.
Guilt clouded Sameer as he recalled that when she tried to find herself, he thought it’s for him. Must she keep on doing everything for him?
He kissed his child and walked towards the balcony. As he saw the rush of Mumbai before him he realised that in striving to be the perfect chief of ETF, he actually forgot what it is to be a loving husband, to be a great dad… and to be a friend.
For the first time he felt helpless. How could he correct his mistakes? How could they go back to being the happy family? How?
He felt selfish for wishing Ayesha to trust him as much as she did on the day of their marriage, she certainly didn’t deserve it… but he was too stubborn to let her go either.
As morning rose an aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the atmosphere, to his surprise Ayesha handed him a cup of coffee and sat next to him, on a wicker chair.
The two silently sipped on coffee, marvelling the little beauty of nature as sunrise broke through the dark sky, now painting them in several shades of orange and red.
Ayesha picked up Sameer’s empty cup and was about to leave, when a gasp left her mouth. Sameer wound his arms around her waist and nuzzled his face in her stomach. Ayesha softened as she felt him shake slightly as tears overpowered his resolve.
“I am sorry Ayesha… I am sorry… main kabhi samaj… I” Sameer found himself at a loss of words as Ayesha brushed the little tears away from his face, unaware of her own.
She sat next to him and held his hand, forgiving him. Sameer pulled her into a tight embrace and thanked the lords for having getting a chance to actually redeem his mistakes.
An hour later the two were still in that hug, Sameer fondly brushed her wild curls aside while she half smiled every now and then. There would be time where he would give long due confessions, but for now… this moment of silence was perfect bliss.
~*~
Sakshi woke to one of the most joyous moments of her life, baby Chau was pinching her cheeks with the stubby fingers. Sakshi smiled and tickled Chau’s stomach who gurguled in laughter and fell back on the bed. As Sakshi jumped on the other side the last thing she ever expected was to stumble on a sleeping Rawte.
Arjun’s eyes shot up to find two things -
- His baby was laughing her head off.
- A nervous Sakshi looking wonderful with a mess on her head known as hair staring at him with shock.
Wait a second, how did he end up on the bed with Sakshi at one side and Chau in the middle? He scratched his head and looked into those dew drop eyes, she blinked them repeatedly as if not believing the sight before her.
For a strange reason her heart was thumping at a record breaking speed. She doubted if there was so much of blood in her body to pump! Arjun looked at her flushed cheeks and parted lips. The honest innocent amazement and shyness on seeing him almost stole his heart away - for the moment.
Chau put her round chin in between her chubby palms to notice her baba and Achi staring at each other as if they were thunderstruck. She shook her head slightly as she was sure of a saxophone number play in the background. Chau swayed slightly to the romantic number… how come this number came up every time her Achi and Baba were stuck?
“Achoo!” Chau sneezed breaking the eyelock amidst Sakshi and Arjun. Sakshi nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and tapped her fingers while Arjun scratched his head. “Hmm… they say that men look the best when they just get up from the morning, how true… what! Shut up Sakshi!” Sakshi murmured then cleared her throat “Aap… yaha?”
“Oh… woh last night it was pretty late when I came here, Chau was moving left right and I guess she had her diapers heavy, so I changed them and took her back to bed… I didn’t realise kab main so gaya by patting her to sleep” and watching how you slept too. Arjun bit the end of his sentence. “Oh..” Sakshi said.
They were quiet for a moment then she walked to the bathroom, with Arjun following her with Chau… and as they stopped behind the door a scandalous memory of the past played out. “Aap mere saath bathroom main ayenge!” Sakshi said, her voice a tone higher and squeakier.
“WHAT! No, woh Chau ka toothbrush lena tha!” Arjun said, almost laughing at the way she turned red and ran to her room. He turned to see his baby staring at him and chuckling… now what was going on in his baby’s devious head was something a mystery forever!
~*~
Sakshi washed her face repeatedly but the damned heat wouldn’t just dissipate from her cheeks. What was happening? Every time Arjun spoke to her or touched her hand hand she felt a current stemming from her head right to her toes.
“Yeh kya ho raha hai Sakshi… apne mundi main kya kya leke beith rahi hai? Chee yaar! Of course Arjun… sir… I mean… he wouldn’t be thinking like that about you?” Sakshi berated herself.
Surely the little gazes, accidental touches while handling Chau, the firm smiles - all these were coincidental and had no relation right!
Yes, Sakshi was convinced that due to her quite “no boyfriend no date ever” policy she was suddenly getting all too fuzz about Arjun.
On the other hand Arjun was patting his child and taking deep breaths. What was going wrong with him? Every time Sakshi blushed and bit her lip why did he feel as if a jolt passed through his spine?
“Arjun! Shame of you! Just soch… tere ghar pe jo bhi ayega kaam karne ke liye… uss ke baare main aisa sochega!” he hit himself mentally.
Surely the coy gazes, the nervousness, the blush staining her cheeks, the slight sensation on holding her hand - all these were coincidences and surely had nothing to do with the four chambered organ. Yeah.
However the mental resolves either had made for the other changed to mush as days passed by. Whenever Ayesha talked about how happy she was and how things turned for good, Sakshi found herself wistfully wishing for a family and most especially a loved one!
Arjun on the other hand, found himself reaching the door of his house an hour earlier than before, he found himself watching romantic movies such as DDLJ or KKHH just because Sakshi was engrossed in them and now, his daughter too!
He was surprised at his own annoyance when Sakshi whistled for Hrithik Roshan in his opening scene in K3G, “What’s so great in green eyes, mediterranean skin, lean figure, awesome accent, superb dancing skills and heart warming acting?” Arjun grumbled!
As days passed and Chaahat grew, Arjun realised that he was used to the clink of bangles, the melodious laughter and the aroma of home cooked food.
Life was great.
However the ever stupid these two were, they actually couldn’t muster any courage to speak to each other.
In fact nights were usually passed by looking at the ceiling, food was mostly untouched, and the ever focused Arjun Rawte would be dazed whenever the name Sakshi would come up. And Sakshi found herself even more fascinated by cops - rather one cop.
It had been four months since Sakshi had been hired. And also Chau’s birthday!
“Chau baby! Kal tumhara birthday hai… batau jaan kya kya chahiye?” Sakshi played with Chau while Arjun entered and swooped his baby up his arms. “My pinshesh! My guchu puchu… birthday ke liye kya kya karein haan?” Arjun nuzzled and kissed his baby’s pink cheeks.
“Acha waise Arjun sir, kab hum jaake shopping karenge? I mean we can’t let Chau see her gifts neither can we leave Chau alone… aur mujhe bhi Chau ke liye khareedna hai!” Sakshi pouted.
“Hmm… idea, we will call Bhabi aur Bhai… along with Chote… toh Ayesha and Sam can handle these two and we can go around shopping for Chau” Arjun suggested while Sakshi jumped in happiness.
Thus the next day Sakshi, Arjun, Ayesha, Sameer, Chau and Aamir were busy in R City selecting clothes.
“No Arjun Sir! Main keh rahi hoon na ki ek red dress khareed te hai Chau ke liye!” Sakshi argued for the fifth time “But Chau loves pink yaar! But agar tumhe sab theek lagta hai toh jao khareedo! As if tumhe iss baat pe farak padta hai ki mujhe kya chahiye ya nahi!” Arjun stormed off while Sakshi pouted.
Sameer and Ayesha tried to control their chuckle as Sakshi trotted behind Arjun and held her ears, pulling out the cutest puppy face ever. Arjun turned aside and outrightly ignored her, though he couldn’t help from a smirk raising on his lips.
Lastly Sakshi managed to get a grumpy Arjun back to the shop, handing over the pink frilly dress. “Acha!” Sameer commented on Arjun as he turned towards him “What accha?” Arjun posed ignorant to the knowing smile. “Nahi bacche, nothing at all..” Sameer chuckled and whispered to Ayesha “Don’t you think that they are already like a couple?” Ayesha laughed in agreement whereas a total unsuspecting Sakshi smiled towards them.
As Arjun patted Chau Saksh ran all around to get the lights and wrappers around the house and vice versa. When Arjun was decorating Sakshi used to relax against the sofa, with Chau on her and watching her all time favourite serial… her eyes were glued to the screen as the leads were going to have a Rabba Ve moment.
“Hai! Uff… coming!” Sakshi angrily said and started putting the fairy lights, to end up putting them on herself. Chau burst into giggles on seeing Sakshi and Arjun walked to help her out of the lights.
And just when his fingers brushed through hers, the dhak dhak, nervousness and anxiety returned with a blush… and from somewhere the Rabba Ve continued as Arjun slightly pulled the strings away from her, his fingers running over her smooth arms not so innocently. Sakshi closed her eyes the minute she could feel his breath caressing her neck.
Arjun closed his eyes to get a whiff of the fruity fragrance of hers.
The only person confused was Chau, on the TV the hero walked around the heroine to remove the fairy lights and the same thing was happening here too… “Kaishe?” her little mind thought.
By the time Arjun was done with removing the lights the two were standing quietly, their hearts pounding at a breakneck speed. Sakshi turned aside slightly, trying to figure out what was going on in Arjun’s mind. Was he serious? Did he mean something? She prayed it was not physical attraction. With her doubts she turned to see the most tender sign of affection in his midnight orbs.
A soft smile escaped her lips and she pranced away before either could speak anything.
For now this silence was beautiful and comfortable.
~*~
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” People sang as Arjun carried Chau and cut the cake. Chau was wearing a red colour princess frock, amusing Sameer and Ayesha to no extent as they had recalled Arjun refusing to buy this.
“They look perfect!” Ayesha smiled as Sakshi and Arjun played with Chau “Hmm… lagta hai mere bhai aur tumhari behen ke beech… you know… something sweet is going to come.” Sameer smiled and placed a hand over her shoulders.
Ayesha chuckled in agreement “Hmm… kisse pata tha ki yeh dono itne jaldi… you know.. mil jayenge!” “Par Ayesha don’t you think he’s moving too fast?” Sameer frowned as Arjun deliberately whispered to Sakshi who seemed stunned by his proximity.
“Hmm… I know… strange…” Ayesha said.
They barely knew how right they were.
~*~
For the past half an hour Arjun tried to convince himself, he can move on! Most definitely!
He knew Sakshi might have been flustered by him but he was sure that he liked her, he definitely needed a second chance in his life.
A chance to love again.
A chance to live again.
And most importantly, a chance to show her that he can be happy with another woman.
Arjun grit his teeth and threw his phone aside, the message still flashing.
“Dear Arjun babe, please tell Chau her mom misses her and that I love her. It’s her birthday na? Happy Birthday Chaahat! <3”
~*~
CHAPTER 6 A
Arjun walked into his room to find Sakshi cradling Chau in her arms, she cooed to his little baby gently, kissing the cherub features of Chau. After showering her love she gently placed the baby in the cot, patting her head as Chau clutched on her shirt.
That’s when Arjun got his focus on Sakshi… why was she wearing his shirt? He gulped seeing that she was wearing only his shirt and nothing else!
He turned aside to see his baby wearing a pale pink night dress.
Sakshi, truly unaware of Arjun, walked towards the bathroom. Suddenly her heartbeat raced and she paused, to find Arjun standing right before her. “Sir?” she whispered and then flushed as she tried to cover her legs.
“What are you doing in my shirt?” he asked. He expected her to fumble but she turned angry and poked in his chest “And tum! Kaha the tum! Tumhe pata hai Chau kitni ro rahi thi, she was not feeling well! Maine tumhe kitna dhundne ki koshish ki! Usse ulti aa gayi thi!” Sakshi hissed at him and looked at Chau again.
“What!” Arjun looked shocked. He skipped towards his baby and gently kissed her pink cheeks “Is she fine now?” he asked “Hmm.. she is… woh she did it on me, so we both took a bath…” Sakshi affectionately patted her tiny chubby fist.
For a second Arjun was astounded, he didn’t find a trace of disgust or anger for Chau having vomited on her. Rather the care and affection. “I couldn’t leave Chau nor could I remain in a towel, so I wore what was in hand.” Sakshi mumbled and placed the pink blanket on Chau.
Sakshi was thankful that the lights were off, else the white thin tee - which had a translucent patch due the water clinging on her hair would result in an embarrassing moment.
“Sakshi?” Arjun asked “Hmm…” she said, moving away the curly locks from Chau’s face. “Didn’t you feel disgust?” he squinted his eyes to look at her face. Her lips broke into a tiny smile and she stared right back at him “She’s an angel… like the daughter I will never have…” Sakshi took in a deep sigh “Iss bacchi pe disgust Arjun… never…” she pecked Chau’s head to find Arjun look aside.
Arjun bit his lips to prevent the tears from coming out of his eyes. He never saw such tenderness and care for his child even from her own mother! He cupped his Princess’s hand and kissed the tiny fingers and the pink palm. Chau almost smiled in her sleep and changed into her eagle position.
Sakshi stepped out, she felt as if she was intruding a private moment. Tucking the wet strands behind the shell of her ear she was about to leave when Arjun walked from the other side of the bed and took her into a bone crushing hug.
To state that she was taken aback would be an understatement. He pulled her tighter against him, unaware of the spark that it was creating. “Thank You Sakshi… thank you.” he whispered as she patted his back gently.
What seemed like a friendly hug soon turned into an embrace as his senses felt how soft she felt against him. He parted a little to look at her face, glowing by the slight light of the moon. He gently tucked an invisible strand behind her ear, his fingers played with her earlobe which earned his a gasp.
Sakshi gently placed a palm on his chest and stopped him from coming any closer, it was torturous for her as his toned chest was brushing against her soft one. “Arjun, it’s late… main sone jaati hoon…” she half smiled and Arjun went back two steps, as if perturbed by his own actions.
“Night…” he said “Good night” she replied and almost ran into her room, leaving a sleepless night for Arjun.
~*~*~*~*~*~
He couldn’t help but notice how she looked in nothing but in his thin tee. It hadn’t taken him much time to figure out the perfect soft curves. He gently sat beside her and cupped her body against his. His fingers played against her buttery soft skin.
But this was not what had enticed him towards her.
The fact that she was half laid on his bed, wearing his shirt, tucking back her wet hair… her fingers caressing little Chau, patting her small forehead warmed Arjun’s heart.
Everything just looked so right. Sakshi was meant to be here. With his child.
With him.
He gently wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her closer, he still couldn’t forget the soft skin of her thighs when she shushed him “Arjun! Chau jaag jayegi…” Sakshi gritted.
“So?” he chuckled and buried his head in her neck for a shameless kiss.
His heart reverberated against his chest in bliss and joy on seeing the woman in his arms and his baby too. He kept his arm around them and hugged his family.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sunrays filtered through the curtains and set a warm glow in the room. Arjun fluttered his eyes to see him hugging a pillow and Chau.
That was a dream… of a family.
His head ached with a dull throb at the base. He caught his head and sighed at the wistful dream of his. Suppose Sakshi didn’t think of him in the same way?
A sharp pain sliced his heart, he couldn’t recover from a heartbreak, could he? Arjun patted his own chest and took his baby in his arms, checking her temperature for any signs of fever as such.
He brushed quickly and along with Chau resting resting her head on his shoulder he tiptoed to the kitchen, to find Sakshi cooking something.
Wasn’t she perfect?
His heart missed an odd beat and he looked aside as pain filled in him. He was being utterly selfish wasn’t he?
“Hey Juno babe!” Rohini winked at him as she cooked some heavenly pasta “Hey Ro! Waise aaj kuch zyaada hi pyaar aa raha hai!” Arjun grinned and waltzed into the kitchen.
“Yeah right! Waise finally you are home unlike that job of yours, so socha why not make something special and nice eh!” Rohini passed him a teasing look while Arjun wrapped his arms around her waist “Acha… what about pleasing your husband in other ways?” he asked.
“Tum saare mard ko ek hi cheez chahiye hoti kya?” Rohini chuckled and Arjun frowned “Aur kisne pucha aise?” he growled “Arrey baba, agar har roz hum aise karte rahe na toh fatak se baccha a jayega and God forbid I seriously don’t want a child now! Acha chalo, how does this taste?” Rohini put a piece into his mouth.
“Uff Rohini garam hai!” He blew and then chewed “Hmm… it actually is very nice.” he grinned.
“Good Morning Sir!” Sakshi smiled brightly at him and continued to work. “Morning Sakshi! Wait… kal didn’t you call me as Arjun?” he asked, Sakshi half smiled and turned away “Woh… woh aise hi…” she fumbled.
“Call me Arjun, I like it.” He smiled “Yes boss! Chalo tum dono baith jao, khaana tayyar hai… yeah don’t tell me karne ki kya zaroorat thi and all that but I think ki tum dono hi bohot tired the na.” Sakshi said.
“Yum… that smells good… so what do we have for breakfast?” Arjun asked “Umm pancakes, some scrambled eggs - egg white of course, Darjeeling tea, mosambi juice, coleslaw spread, toasts and butter.” Sakshi said.
“Woah! You are some cook Sakshi!” Arjun smiled and rocked Chau back and forth. “Waise, Arjun just check if this is fine.” Sakshi held the fork up to Arjun, before he could take the fork Chau whimpered a little and Arjun rocked his baby gently “Naa bacha… shush…” he said softly.
Arjun half smiled and opened his mouth “You can… umm…” he said hesitatingly and Sakshi blew on the little morsel before putting it in his mouth. “But Sakshi… tum?” before he completed his question “Aaa…” Sakshi said and put a forkful of scrambled egg in his mouth “If I don’t blow toh yeh garma garam tumhare muh main jayega aur kaan se dhua ayega!” Sakshi chuckled, little knowing how her actions touched him further.
The trio enjoyed a sumptuous meal as Sakshi fed Chau when Arjun tucked into the pancakes and eggs with toast and coleslaw spread. He sipped on the tea later to find Sakshi not having touched her food “Sakshi tum khao, tab tak main Chau ko sambhalata hoon… hai na baccha… chalo now baba’s here… aa karo!” Arjun smiled and Chau opened her pink little mouth “AAAAA” she giggled.
“Oh Arjun! Parso shaam ko na Jiju ka birthday party hai so we are invited, I guess we should go right… I mean Chau is as fit as a fiddle now! Hai na Chau!” Sakshi winked at which Chau jumped.
“Hmm okay, but not more than an hour… waise you don’t have to clean up the dishes, voh Bai ayegi kaam karne ke liye.” Arjun smiled again… “You smile way too much Arjun” he berated himself while Sakshi nodded.
“Chalo Chau baby… time to walk a little!” Sakshi bent and held Chau’s arms as she took a few steps here and there.
~*~
“Acha Ayesha… aaj sports day hai na Aamir ke liye? Chalo… we will go there jald.. I will try to make it as soon as possible!” Sameer passed the cup to Ayesha.
“No issues Sam. By the way… Aamir loved the little walk in the park. Ghar pe aate hi… mumma pata hai dedda ne yeh kiya woh kiya yeh khilaaya woh khilaaya!” Ayesha laughed. “I missed so much na…” Sameer sighed.
“Sam… we are over those things now. We are happy together, isse zyaada kya chahiye?” Sameer smiled and held Ayesha’s hand.
“Waise Sam, happy birthday again.” Ayesha kissed his cheeks while Sameer grinned more. “I love you.” He sighed.
Ayesha half smiled at him and went back to working around the house, of course she wasn’t back to the fun loving Ayesha…
But Sameer Rathore was in no manner putting his foot back to bring out the true happiness in Ayesha.
This party would be one to remember.
~*~
She glanced at the picture in her hand and sighed, she was a fool to have left him in need of more money. She loved the be pampered and be treated like a princess.
The mother in her heart though did yearn for her child a little, yet it was nothing like the joy she had when she read of his latest success on paper.
This also meant that apart from being famous, Arjun had earned quite a lot as well.
Rohini smiled wickedly as she decided to get Arjun back in her life, hadn’t he been crazy for her? A little bit of tears and pathetic-ness would be all for him to be back.
She donned his favourite blue coloured cocktail dress and headed out.
~*~
“Awara bhavre… jo haule haule gaaye…” Sakshi sang while she dressed up Chau in a little pink frock and woolen cap.
Chau was dancing around with her Achi (sakshi) and was dancing around so much that Sakshi was having a tough time in getting Chau ready. She herself was half dressed in a cream coloured dress. “Baby jaldi tayyar ho ja warna mere ready hone main der lag jayegi and buhahahaha Angry Arjun sir will come and will band bajaoing me!” Sakshi made weird faces and Chau chuckled till she fell over the bed to be caught in Sakshi’s arms.
“Deva, how will I put the zip now?” Sakshi grumbled and tried to put the zip in one hand and hold on to Chau with the other as Chau was not letting go of Sakshi at all.
Suddenly Sakshi felt her senses to go for a toss when Arjun said from behind “I’ll help you.” And with that he pushed her hair aside and gently pulled the zip.
Was the zip long or the fact that Arjun was pulling it took eons?
Sakshi looked in the mirror and smiled as the couple with Chau looked perfect. Just before Arjun opened his mouth to compliment that Sakshi said “Sir! You should be wearing a pink coloured shirt, tab hum sab matching matching rahenge!” Sakshi winked as Arjun gave a horrified look.
“How to destroy moments!” Arjun smiled to himself and the trio went for the party.
~*~
“Thank you so so so much for coming today! It means a lot! Now my birthday has a different meaning as there are two people for whom I continue to live, my lovely wife Ayesha and the gift she gave us, Aamir. So Ashu… would you like to dance with the birthday boy?” Sameer said as a flaming red Ayesha blushed!
All the ETF members cheered while Arjun and Sakshi were truly happy to see the progress in their relation. As a soft number played out Sameer held Ayesha gently and swayed through the crowd while an overexcited Aamir was busy playing with Chau.
Sakshi smiled looking at the brother and sister pair as a loving Aamir was blabbering with Chau which left Arjun and Sakshi alone now. She itched to dance with him on the floor in the soft number. Sakshi sighed and bit her lower lip in trying to control the various emotions which flooded on her face when suddenly a tanned hand was extended towards her. To her shock Arjun smirked and pulled her to the dance floor.
All the other ETF members were in shock while Ayesha and Sameer were too lost in their beautiful world.
“You wanted this na?” Arjun whispered as his arm snaked around her waist and rested on the small of her back. Sakshi turned several shades scarlet “Uh… nn.. no.. ss.. sir…” Sakshi blushed further as said “Chal jhooti…” Sakshi gaped as he winked at her. “Sir, are you drunk?” to which Arjun laughed out. “Haha, if I was drunk I… let’s leave the rest as an incomplete sentence.” He whispered and Sakshi turned crimson again.
“Sir…” She was interrupted “Still Sir?” he said and Sakshi turned red “Kis naam se pukaru?” she whispered while he tipped her chin “I have a name don’t I?” He smiled while Sakshi turned redder.
“Arr...r...jun?” she panted and held his shoulders tightly “Not Ar..r….jun.. Arjun.” he teased her and loved how she turned ever redder. “Arjun.” she breathed out and closed her eyes. “Sakshi…” he breathed out.
“I think I feel something for you…” Arjun caressed her cheek gently and then looked somewhere while Sakshi held the lapels of his jacket, swaying against him. “Kya?” she whispered.
Unaware of the gaping crowd and the fact that the music had stopped, Arjun pulled a red Sakshi towards him and threaded his fingers in her hair. Sakshi’s eyes watered at the tender caress and with his thumb he gently swept across her full lips. A gasp broke from Sakshi’s mouth as he tilted her face and shamelessly breathed in her exotic scent.
A rough groan escaped his throat as her lips parted and dried in anticipation. He bent and licked her waiting lips and indulged in a hard kiss. Sakshi was taken aback with this strong passion and held on to him as he sucked her lips; none too gently.
Before Sakshi could reciprocate he drew back, leaving Sakshi dizzy. While the hall burst in claps a confused Sakshi couldn’t decipher the desperation in his kiss.
It was her first yet she knew the hidden desperation, she had yearned for a soft sensuous kiss but this had blown her mind away. She looked up to find Arjun having a little smirk and holding Sakshi indecently close against him, his eyes fixated on the door.
Sakshi frowned and turned around to see Rohini’s shocked face and turned back in anger to find Arjun having the male pride…
“Arjun?” her voice came out in a mixture of anger and cry. Arjun looked down and realised that she saw Rohini.
“Sa…” “Shush… you kissed me because Rohini was watching?” Sakshi stepped back and closed her mouth in shock. Arjun cursed and felt slammed on his face. “No… S.. Sakshi I truly meant…” “Truly meant to spite Rohini and tell her you have moved on, I was nothing but a… a dice?” Sakshi squinted her eyes and stared at Arjun whose face slackened and she laughed to herself.
His phone buzzed in his hand and Sakshi saw the message from Rohini “How could you!” was written and she also saw the message before - it was during Chau’s birthday.
From that day did Arjun start taking a lead in their relationship.
Sakshi controlled her tears and walked out while Arjun excused themselves and followed her. Sakshi ran away from the hall, tears falling from her eyes. She was used as a pawn?
She berated her naive heart.
“Please stop!” Arjun voiced out, little knowing that both Rohini and Sakshi had stopped. Arjun noticed Rohini staring at him with relief on her face but he avoided her and walked up to Sakshi “Sakshi please…” “Leave me Arjun!” Sakshi pushed against him. He cupped her face and plastered his lips against hers violently in an effort to let her believe him.
He agreed he did that to make Rohini feel bad, but he didn’t want to break Sakshi’s heart. He noticed that Rohini was staring at them, using this opportunity to show him that everything was over he pinned Sakshi to the wall and plastered smaller kisses on her swollen lips “I love you Sakshi… I love you…” he chanted while a hazed Sakshi closed her eyes and revelled in his kiss.
Rohini felt shattered as Arjun was busy making out with another woman. She had lost her chance to get back into the house. Damn!
Sakshi moaned as he bit her neck and ran a hand up and down her back to calm her down. As Arjun laved the little bite on her neck Sakshi opened her misty eyes when a shriek was heard.
“How could you do this Arjun!” Rohini shrieked. “Oh woah! Who do I see? Tumne mujhe dhoka diya aur mujhe puch rahe ho! How does it feel to see the person you loved to be in the arms of another?” Arjun blasted out at Rohini who faked crocodile tears “I came back realising that you were the one for me!” Rohini faked more tears.
Arjun frowned and then nodded his head “Doesn’t make a difference, shadi toh main Sakshi se kar ke hi rakhungi!” He snarled “Oh No! Arjun mujhe aise punish mat karo!” Rohini worried that her money back was going away.
“I will…” Arjun grinned at a stricken Rohini… he wanted her to see him with Sakshi. “I will marry her in front of you…” he resolved while Rohini half smiled.
Arjun frowned “You know the funniest thing Arjun, you still care about me… isliye you want me to be jealous.” Rohini smiled.
“What!” Arjun glared but somewhere in his heart it cursed him for taking her as his first love. “Yes… Arjun you are marrying her just to prove it to me that you don’t need me… never realising that you are losing Sakshi in the process right?” Rohini laughed out while Arjun paled.
He turned behind to find Sakshi gone…
“Sakshi!” Arjun cried out.
~*~
Arjun ran back home to find everything empty, a few of her clothes were still there… few of her makeup items, bangles, books but apart from that her passport, phone and most of the clothes were gone. Chau was at Sameer’s house as he gave a quick bye to his princess. Sameer and Ayesha agreed to keep Chau for a day as Arjun ran around like a frantic.
That’s when he got a message on his phone.
Sir, I never wanted anything more than selfless love. I loved Chau and it kills me to leave her. Chau was the only person who loved me for no reason, she didn’t love me to show her deceiving mother… I was naive and foolish to have fallen for you! I was being used as a pawn for your ex wife? This… this was what our relation was based upon? You know what I thought about our first kiss? To be soft, tender and long. Not rough and short. I was a fool to think that… I was a fool. But anyways… before leaving I would like to tell you one thing.
I love you Arjun.
It hurts to leave your home and Chau for it hurts, in Chau I found a baby I never had. It tears me to leave my baby back. I love you Arjun, more than anything… but I never expected to be a part of the jealousy game. People often forget what happens to the person being used for jealousy. It kills them, for they knew that they weren’t the reason for the interest and sudden display of affection. NO matter what you say, the real reason was that… you wanted to show Rohini, please don’t deny. I have returned the rest of the money that you had given in advance, all the gifts are left back in the house but I have shamelessly taken a few clothes of Chau.
Love you Arjun,
Your Sakshi
Arjun sat on the floor, shocked and then asked Shree to trace the call “VT Station.” Shree replied a few minutes later. Arjun ran towards the station to see that the train to Bangalore had started departing. Running like a mad man he ran behind the train.
Sakshi rest her head against the window railing to find Arjun running and screaming her name. A shocked Sakshi ran to the exit door and stared as Arjun kept on running “SAKSHI I LOVE YOU! PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME! SAKSHI YOU MEAN MY LIFE… SAKSHI… I LOVE YOU!” Arjun screamed as a teary Sakshi cupped her mouth in shock, the train proved to be too fast and she cried her heart out as Arjun’s figure became smaller and smaller and it disappeared.
And as Sakshi disappeared from his sight, Arjun crashed on the floor, tears rolling down his cheeks.
~*~
He trudged back home, his eyes bloodshot.
Every moment he spent with Sakshi came into his head. From her first meet till the moment he kissed.
And now that he lost her, he realised he was utterly foolish to have done something as foolish and stupid as what he did right now!
He had meant to kiss her indeed… to show Rohini that he loves Sakshi. Damn why did he even need to…
When a smile tipped his lips, Rohini made him confess, even in the most ugliest manner - that he was a lovesick man, a love puppy for Sakshi.
~*~
Sameer and Ayesha were almost freaked out the moment they saw a sweaty bloodshot eyed Arjun standing on the door with a stupid smile on his face. “I confessed I love her.” Arjun stated.
“Then?” Ayesha asked while Sameer handled the little kids.
Wiping his tears away he explained to Sameer and Ayesha’s house to be bombarded with questions. He got a punch from Sameer when he explained everything and surprisingly Ayesha took Arjun’s side. “Bhabi, I… I need to speak to Rohini… call her here… abhi… I know it’s eight in the evening… but please call her now.” While Sameer frowned and growled over that Ayesha called Rohini who was more than excited to come over.
Arjun took a shower while Sameer sighed “Mere khud ka bhai hai par mujhe khud samaj nahi aa raha hai ki yeh banda soch kya raha hai!”
Ayesha pursed her lips and said “Don’t worry Sam, am sure he is cooking something in his mind.” Ayesha smiled.
After thirty minutes Rohini came and did all coochie coo to Chau who looked away while Arjun stepped in front “Arjun babe, I love you sweetheart… I know you…”
“Rohini… I really love you!” Arjun laughed and hugged a slightly shocked Rohini.
“Yeah… me too…” Sameer was ready to growl while Ayesha calmed him down.
“I love you because you made me realise how much I love Sakshi! I mean mujhe laga ki main tumhe dikha raha hoon par sachai yeh hai ki I fell for her way long back! So dearest Rohini… thank you so much for being such an important person in my life! Ab kindly mere zindagi main phirse aane ki koshish bhi mat karna, for I am insanely in love with Sakshi and I need to re perform my first kiss with her!” Arjun smiled around while a stumped Rohini was shown the door by a very happy Sameer.
“Arjun yeh sab…” Sameer started “Bhai, only when you are on the verge of losing some ki uski ahmiat samaj main aate hai… now I realise that I can’t live without her and right now what I am going to do is going to give complex to even film heroes and I have thought with a very calm mind about this, can you guys get an off for one day and manage to spend a few thousands? Along with Shree and guys, mostly the tenth of March and yeah, get your traditional best.” Arjun said while Sameer and Ayesha were confused.
“Arjun what the beautiful hell are you thinking?” Sameer asked.
“Nothing, except for the fact that… I can do anything to get my sweetheart back, so Chau jaan, will you help your baba in this?” Arjun raised Chau.
“Ei?” She asked “Do you want Achi to be your maa?” Arjun asked while Chau squealed and hugged her father.
As Sameer and Ayesha stood open mouthed while Arjun expressed his plan; Sameer felt compelled to ask “bhai? Are you serious?”
“I want to make her my wife and life as soon as possible, yes I am serious!” Arjun said and then checked his phone ‘Yikes! 9.30! Okies, I gotto leave okay, bye guys… love you!” Arjun strapped Chau on his chest and walked out with a suitcase.
~*~
Arjun ran into the shop and breathed out, he called family jeweller “Kaka, main Arjun, Kaka main bas bees minute main aata hoon aap please dukaan main hi rahiya… haan thank you!” Arjun said and then looked at his baby who was gazing at him.
“Yes jaan, your papa is going to do something real crazy, ab baccha even you need an interesting story to tell your friends na, ki this is how papa got married!” Arjun chuckled, damn he felt 23 now!
“Shree?” Arjun called him up and Shree on the other hand who was in a dinner date with Liza and her family choked and spilt the Sprite “Sir?” Came as Shree’s answer when Arjun stated the plan. “Yep!” Arjun chuckled and picked up the lehenga.
“Mama…” Chau said softly as she turned towards the yellow and orange lehenga. Arjun kissed his baby’s cheeks and and picked it up. “Maa will look beautiful na?” Chau bobbed her head “Achi maa…” Chau giggled. “And what about you sweetheart?” Arjun nuzzled in his baby’s face.
~*~
“Hoof! Kaka thank you for staying up!” Arjun said quietly as Chau had dozed off on his chest. “Arrey beta tumne kaha aur main jaga na rahu, bolo kya chahiye?” Kaka smiled “Kaka, iske saath kuch gehne…” Arjun said and Kaka smiled.
“Kaka poore paise main…” “Beta! Tu jab nanga tha tabse dekh ke aya hoon,” Kaka was interrupted as Chau burst into giggles all of a sudden. Arjun tapped his devil child’s head and thanked the Kaka.
He stepped out of the shop and smiled… he was idiot, foolish, stupid, arrogant and dumb… but after all… he was sick with love!
And the only person whom he could be treated by would be the one and only Sakshi Anand whose off to Bangalore.
~*~
Chapter 6 (B)
Sakshi cried the whole twenty two hours on her way to Bangalore. Arjun’s confession as he screamed to her jabbed in her heart. Damn she didn’t even allow him to say anything…
But that Arjun! He kissed her twice to show that Rohini and she was scared… what if he started feeling for Rohini again?
Wiping away the edge of her red rimmed eyes she got a call from Ayesha “WHAT THE HELL! I just heard from Bhai that you ran away from Mumbai to land up in Bangalore!” Her Di shouted from the other end.
“Sorry… ww.. woh Arjun…” “Arrey if I was in your place I would have slapped him and gone back home! Yeh kya bhagi jaa rahi hai! Without even fighting for your love!” Ayesha said as Sakshi cried harder “How do I know if that nikamma even loves me!”
“Shut up Sakshi! He does love you! Has he confessed?” Ayesha sighed “Haan! When my train was going away tab!” Sakshi cried out.
“Hush behna… hush… I have sent a driver to pick you and have set you up in a hotel. Just calm down and asses all that’s happening in your life. That’s all I have to say now. And please… Bangalore pohochte phone karna, love you sis.” A tired Ayesha said while Sakshi nodded. “Bye re.”
As Sakshi stepped out of the station her mind was preoccupied. She struggled with her bag and amidst the push and pull. Finally she saw her name as a driver put the name tag. For a crazy reason she prayed that the driver turned out to be Arjun, only a minute later did the bald pot bellied driver said “Madam ji?” and Sakshi came back to reality.
She texted Ayesha about her reaching Bangalore and cut all the necessary calls. Upon reaching the Park Hotel Sakshi entered the hotel with a morose face. Even the extra smiling extra polite receptionist earned nothing but a morose face from Sakshi.
She now began to think if she was even right or not. Too exhausted to decide she just headed towards the room. “Have a nice stay!” The room service extra smiled and Sakshi nodded.
Damn was everybody smiling too much oh wait… she was having a morose day and talk about smiling!
Sakshi cursed and entered the perfumed room. She threw aside her jacket and heels, remaining in just a spaghetti she was surprised to find a big basket at the center of her bed. Frowning Sakshi went near the basket to find something moving and speaking.
To her shock Chau gurgled and screamed in joy the minute Sakshi removed the blanket covering her. “CHAU!” Sakshi stood shell shocked as Chau hugged Sakshi and placed sloppy kisses.
“Oh My God!” Sakshi almost fainted on seeing Chau “Achi maaaaa…” Chau kissed Sakshi’s cheeks who burst into tears and played with the baby.
After kissing her baby she laid her gently back into the soft basket and walked towards the washroom, she barely slid the shower curtain that a hand pulled her and she found herself on Arjun’s lap in the tub.
“ARJ…” Sakshi’s words were stopped as Arjun placed his lips on her, soft, warm and demanding. His one arm slipped under her spaghetti while the other angled her face. Sakshi drowned in a land of bliss as his tongue touched her little shy tongue.
She held on to his collars while he gently parted due to the need of air “This.. our… first kiss…” He mumbled while Sakshi hugged him tightly.
He brushed the hair aside and held her face “Itna gussa ki mujhe bolna ka mauka hi nahi diya…” he frowned while Sakshi burst into tears.
She hit his chest and cried “You broke my heart! i thought you were using me to get back your wife!” Sakshi cried while Arjun hugged her tightly “I am sorry… I really am sorry Sakshi!” He held her while she pushed him away and walked towards her bed with Arjun following her.
“Sakshi you mean my life to me! Mera dil mera sab kuch…” he still panted from the current excitement. He caged Sakshi between his arms while Sakshi trembled, her heart pounded heavily. “Give me a reason to trust you.” “I can give you thousands to not trust…” Arjun sighed and looked aside. He cupped Sakshi’s cheek and said “I love you Sakshi, you mean everything…”
As they were silenced for another round of kissing while Chau gurgled, breaking their trance. Sakshi jumped on the bed and cuddled her child. “But this is impossible… tum mere pehle kaise aaye?”
Arjun laughed and kissed her nose “Do you know that man invented planes after trains!” he got a sound beating from Sakshi for that.
Arjun gave Sakshi a beautiful nightgown and sent her to the washroom, it was neither revealing nor something awkward, rather it looked like a pretty white gown!
Sakshi took little nimble steps out of the washroom to find Chau giggling at the centre of the bed “Achi maa…” Chau called as Sakshi walked towards her.
Chau gave her a little note and had something in her hands.
Sakshi frowned and then opened the note and gasped in surprise.
“Will you be my maa and my papa’s wifey?”
Sakshi’s eyes welled up as she unraveled Chau’s fingers to find a ring in it.
Arjun back hugged Sakshi who was trembling in joy as she took the delicate ring. “I love you Sakshi, will you be Mrs. Sakshi Arjun Rawte?” he asked and Sakshi hugged him tightly. “Yes!” she buried her face in his chest while Arjun included Chau in a group hug, to only find her dozing off.
As Sakshi lay a sleeping Chau to the crib the hotel gave while Arjun spooned her on the bed. “I still can’t believe you did all this!” Sakshi said while Arjun kissed her shoulder “Sakshi…” his voice turned husky and Sakshi shied away, tucking a nervous strand behind her ear. “No no… I am not asking for that…” Arjun smiled at her innocence. “Then?” Sakshi said, biting her tongue for she felt that perhaps he felt a need to consummate.
“Sakshi, paagal! Mujhe bhook lagi hai, can we snack on something from the hotel fridge and basket?” Arjun rubbed his tummy while Sakshi chuckled. As they feasted on nut bars, pringles, ice cream and chocolates for the night, Sakshi put on the TV and the couple snuggled watching a silent romantic movie.
Both Sakshi and Arjun smile when they show the Sounds of Music. “That’s so us!” Arjun sighed while Sakshi hugged him.
“Exactly! Woh khadoos buddha Captain and the beautiful jawaan Maria!” Sakshi winked while Arjun grinned “Buddha? Sakshi…” he drew her name on his lips in a manner which made her red till her toes. “Kuch nahi!” She blabbered while Arjun turned and said “No no… you said right… buddha… really?” he muttered while Sakshi turned his face towards the screen.
“The dance…” Sakshi’s heart plummeted at that while Arjun caught her hand “Was perfect… I love you Sakshi…” Arjun said and Sakshi hugged him back.
“Hum kal hi shadi karein?” He asked as Sakshi gazed at darkness. “Acha, pandit, kapde, gehne kaha se laoge?” Sakshi asked while he propped himself on one elbow “Agar sab aa gaye toh?” He kissed her nose “Sach?” She asked and he nodded “Muchi…”
~*~
“Oh God!” These were the first words Sakshi stated as she looked at the bowl of haldi that Arjun had got in the morning “Yes way Sak!” Ayesha laughed as a sleepy Sakshi got the horror of her life.
She was weaving dreams of her wedding when she was poked and felt little feet paddling over her and she opened to find Chau jumping all over Sakshi. Sakshi laughed and moved her hand for her Arjun, where in place of a muscular bicep she found a soft arm while Ayesha smiled “Rise and shine sweetheart! It’s 6.30 in the morning and you have to get ready for haldi!”
And when Ayesha showed her how haldi looks in real life Sakshi got a heart attack! “Oh God…”
“Arjun kaha hai!” Sakshi said while Ayesha made a puppy face “Tere Arjun ko bhi achi se haldi laga rahe hai Sam! Now get up and get ready fast! Tere kapde ready hai bathroom main aur khana bhi!”
“Bathroom main?” Sakshi asked “Dhat pagli! Idhar ab jaa!”
As Ayesha fed Sakshi and dressed her up for haldi she said how Arjun made a plan to leave for Bangalore and buy her wedding dress and jewellery before hand. Sakshi listened as how Ayesha described the crying hysterical Arjun to a lovesick puppy Arjun.
Sakshi shied as Sameer teased his saali relentlessly on Arjun’s behaviour and also caught her blushes. Ayesha added to her woes by stating that in the morning who was Sakshi finding for in the bed?
“Chalo aaj toh Arjun bhai ki pyaar ka total test hoga!” Ayesha stated as a Mehendi waali came and applied Mehendi “What?” “Haan, dekhte hai ki teen ghante main kya rang laati hai!”
“Ayesha, according to science if hair dryer se blow kiya jai with alternate wetting using lime and sugar juice then the perfect shade will come!” Liza corrected as Shree was busy taking photos.
“Exactly! Iss mehendi se Arjun ke pyaar main aisa vaisa kuch nahi hone waala!” Sakshi said and stared as the Mehendi waali put in intricate designs. For three hours the continuous drying and wetting of her hands made Sakshi fall asleep again.
But the bubbling excitement especially with Chau in her arms made her feel ecstatic, the little conversations with Arjun over the phone made her burst out in happiness.
Finally as the hours were over Sakshi was scrubbed clean of any more Haldi and Mehendi traces.
Sakshi took a deep breath as she saw her wedding attire. Getting ready she headed to the temple along with Ayesha.
~*~
Arjun was chatting with Aamir and the ETF guys at the temple when Sameer signalled that Sakshi had come, with Chau in her arms!
She was looking ethereal! The colours contrasted against her pale skin, highlighting a glow from her.
Arjun took little steps and walked towards the love of his life, his grin widened as he saw the dark henna pattern on her palm. As the couple sat down Chau too crawled off Sakshi’s lap.
(Chau’s dress)
Sakshi’s eyes teared up as he placed the sindoor in the parting and tied the mangalsutra.
They looked at each other and smiled as he kissed her forehead.
Arjun then carried Sakshi all the way to the hotel, embarrassing his newly wedded wife!
The next morning was a bliss as Arjun woke up to a bare Sakshi snuggling into him and Chau dancing on her crib to get to her baba.
Arjun picked up his child and placed it himself as Chau wrapped herself around his neck, poor innocent soul she didn’t even understand why her Achi maa was in just a blanket.
“Morning jaan…” he whispered as Sakshi flung her leg over his hips and he laughed as Chau slipped in between them and was intrigued by Sakshi’s soft skin.
Sakshi squirmed when she was showered with sloppy kisses on her cheeks. She opened an eye to find Chau grinning at her "Arrey mera baby..." Sakshi cooed when Chau pulled the blanket, Sakshi reddened immediately and picked the little toddler and pinched her cheeks lightly "Baby... no blankie pulling!" Sakshi blushed as Arjun laughed heartily, he hugged Sakshi and Chau together as they both kissed him on either cheek.
And thus they lived, the clichéd happily ever after...
~*~
EPILOGUE
“And my friends, that is how Achi maa married Baba!” Chau relaxed over her sofa as the couple in front of her were engrossed in her tale.
“So Randeep and Ruhika , you have understood what to do right?” Chau pushed back the bangs from her forehead as the couple nodded. “Everything should be perfect! Samjhe ya Samjhaaun?” twenty one year old Chahat Rawte said to her event managers.
“Remember the theme! It should be a recapitulation of all that happened amidst them!” Chahat danced as her older brother, Aamir Rathore bumped into her “Damn it! Chau yaar… sambhalke baat karo!” Aamir frowned and picked up his files.
“Aam bhai, sun na… iss baar na full on theme hai mom dad ki 20th wedding anniversary ke liye!” She jumped around while Aamir laughed “Fine discuss with Samaira, Saisha and Arshi… tab tak ke liye let me complete this project. Chachu aur Mami ke liye don’t forget to get the special cake okie!” Aamir left when the other three girls of his family came in.
“Damn it, Aamir bhaag!” Aamir scooted away before the four most beautiful women in his life would involve him in their weird plans.
“Aam bhaaaaiiii….” Chau’s words came in “No way!” “Okies, I will call Karan to pair up with me for the dance.” And that was all required for the protective brother to come out. “Bhai sun… can you get your gf idhar… we need her help… plisshhh…” Arshi pouted and pulled her ears in the exact replication of his Mami.
Aamir laughed and nodded.
Aamir Rathore
Aamir's Girlfriend - Mihika Neg
Samaira and Saisha Rathore
Chahat Rawte
Chahat's "Just Good Friend" Karan
Arshi Rawte
~*~
Arjun and Sakshi never thought that the IVF would work and give them their little Arshi, more than them it was Chahat who was a bursting packet of joy to see her little sister.
“Kaha khoe ho?” Sakshi smiled as Arjun was simple standing behind her, holding her pallu in one hand and safety pin in the other. “Bas aise hi…” Arjun said softly and pinned her saree. As Sakshi redid the pleats of her saree she smiled as Arjun himself was too eager to do them. “I know very well what you will do with them!” Sakshi rolled her eyes as he hugged her tightly “Aha… what will I do?”
Sakshi burst into laughter “SIR, neeche chaliye, the kids will be waiting for us.” Arjun stepped back and laughed heartily, twenty years had done nothing to the woman before him. The slight greys near their temples did nothing but increase their adoration towards each other, the little bit of wrinkles that formed near their eyes was a sign of how much they laughed in happiness.
After sharing a long soft peck the two walked down and were surprised when Samaira and Saisha hugging them and welcoming them to their garden.
“Chotimaa, Chotepapa please keep your eyes closed!” Samaira squealed while Arjun and Sakshi complied.
As they sat on a love seat and received whistles from their other team mates, Arjun glared while Sakshi blushed again. “Bees saal baad bhi?” Arjun laughed to get nudged on his stomach.
“Hello ji Welcome ji Sasriakal! Myself ji the one and only Arshi Rawte! Aaj hum jo dikhane waale hai na, usse sabki batti phus ho jayegi, with the exception of maa who will turn red as usual and baba jo mummy ko aur bhi chedenge!” Arshi laughed much to the chagrin of her mother!
Arjun wrapped an arm around Sakshi’s shoulders as the program started “Lagta hai tumne mere baccho ko kuch zyaada hi Rajshri productions ki movies dekha di!” Arjun laughed while Sakshi pouted.
“Kya aap bhi!” She turned her face aside then gasped as he wound his arm around her waist “Arjun SIR, you are a father of a twenty one and seventeen year old, kuch toh sharam karo!” Sakshi squatted away while Arjun pulled her closer “Mrs. Rawte, don’t make me angry! Aur aisa pout na kiya karo, dil main kuch hota hai.” Arjun shamelessly flirted while Sakshi closed his mouth with her palm.
They both smiled as the background wrote “Our Sounds of Music!”
Arjun and Sakshi gaped in shock and surprise as Aamir walked onto the stage, wearing long trousers and a tight shirt while Mihika danced on the stage wearing a patiala and kurti and her hand was full of bangles. She bounced into Aamir "Arjun" and fumbled into a salute.
A gold anklet shined and chimed in the air... it had small shapes of a horse, a cat and a heart attached to it... her hips swayed left right... her hair was tied up in a messy bun... her patyala flowed left right... her bangles making all the sound in the world... her soft kurti danced with her...
“Aap Miss. Sakshi Anand ko jaante hai kya?” the voice asked...
She turned behind and laughed.. her laughter filling the sky with her singsong voice... “Arrey main khud Sakshi Anand... aur aap oh frigggin lord!” Sakshi said shocked to find THE Arjun Suryakant Rawte standing with his arms crossed above his chest...
Wearing long trousers and a tight shirt (which beautifully reflected his abs and chiseled chest and the collar bones which stood out) , his hair neat in place and a chiseled jawline, he looked an exact replica of those hot hollywood dads!
Sakshi gaped at the guy whom she immediately had a silly crush on then it dawned to her that he indeed is ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte... she fumbled and hit into a salute!
Arjun was shocked and so was Sakshi, their mouths was open as Mihika "Sakshi" put on a salute and followed Aamir "Arjun" while they stumbled and fell on the floor, thus the first song started... with Mihika "Sakshi" staring at Aamir "Arjun"
Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko...
Nazar nahi churana sanam...
Badal ke meri tum zindegani...
Kahi badalna jaana sanam...
Aamir "Arjun" turned oblivious while Mihika "Sakshi" swooned all over him... Arjun glanced at a red and embarrassed Sakshi who was busy ignoring Arjun and smiling at the performance.
Then Mihika "Sakshi" picks up baby doll "Chau" and plays with her while Aamir "Arjun" stares at her.
Chanda hai tu,
Mera suraj hai tu,
O meri aankhon ka tara hai tu
Sakshi and Arjun smile at Mihika when another story starts off... Chau now comes on stage as Sakshi wearing a bathrobe and singing while Sakshi prays it's not what she thinks!
Garam Garam Pani se...
Nahane chahiye...
Gaana aaye na... AAAAA...
Chau "Sakshi" squealed as a towel clad Karan "Arjun" bumps into her. Sakshi and Arjun go in shock "Oh No!" The red faced couple shrieked, oblivious to the teasing glances all around.
The shower was off - as usual… and the bathroom was steamy… perhaps Sakshi had just taken a bath…
I threw my boxers aside and gently shut the door… not entirely in case my baby called me...
It was when I pulled the curtain aside and stepped in my eyes turned as big as saucepans seeing Sakshi inside!
And me being a man I couldn’t help but take a quick look of hers; top to bottom.… covered in nothing… but shower gel froth.. (Thank God - izzat bach gayi [;)] )
“AAAAAHHHH….” Sakshi screamed…
And right then a song started, embarrassing them further...
Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Main,
Mithi Mithi Baaton Men
Aisi Barasaato Men, Kaisaa Lagataa Hai?
Karan "Arjun" walked in front and twirled her around, while a shy Chahat "Sakshi" ran away while Karan "Arjun" tugged on to her bathrobe. Chahat "Sakshi" blushed and pulled off a dramatic pose...
Aisaa Lagataa Hai Tum Banake Baadal,
Mere Badan Ko Bhigoke Mujhe, Chhed Rahe Ho O
Chhed Rahe Ho
Karan "Arjun" teased Chahat "Sakshi" while a red faced Arjun and Sakshi looked anywhere but at the faces of others.
Then the scene changed while Mihika "Sakshi" walked in wearing her usual clothes and an oversized shirt, keeping the baby "Chau" in front Mihika "Sakshi" swayed her hips while a grinning Aamir "Arjun" rested against the backdrop of the stage.
He tiptoed into his room and saw Sakshi performing before Chaahat… wearing his shirt!
Engine ki seeti te maaro bum dole!
Engine ki seeti te maaro bum dole!
She swayed her hips and shimmied a little… shaking her hips left and right…
Her back was towards the door as Chaahat was sitting on the bed and trying to imitate Sakshi…
She looked like a tiny baby in his shirt!
As she spun around she saw a highly amused Arjun staring at her…
“Jamaila!” Sakshi screeched!
Right then Mihika "Sakshi" swayed her hips and danced
Engine ki seet te maaro bum dole!
Engine ki seeti te maaro bum dole!
Arjun and Sakshi burst out laughing and clapped while they recalled how Arjun barked at her later, Sakshi turned quiet while Arjun kissed her temple mumbling a sorry.
After that a pouty Mihika "Sakshi" was sitting on the floor while Aamir "Arjun" held his ears and gave a puppy look at which Mihika chuckled. After that came in Chahat "Sakshi" and Karan "Arjun" who were blushing at little touches...
Dil ka dimaag se
Jhagda lagaaya kise
Jhagda lagaaya kise
Chahat "Sakshi" was busy staring at Karan "Arjun" who was doing push ups. "Oho... so someone used to watch my workout daily?" Arjun nudged Sakshi who turned red agin.
Peechhe ke darwaaze se ae..
Dabe paanv aaya kaise
Karan "Arjun" stared at a Chahat "Sakshi" who was busy sleeping and he was jumping around by staring at her. "Oho! Koi chore chupe mujhe sote hue dekhta tha?" Sakshi stuck her tongue out while Arjun gave a cheeky grin.
Thoda sa kameena
"Bilkul!" Sakshi said
"Yeh hai sahi! Main bechara!" Arjun laughed while Sakshi pouted.
Ishq bhoot sahi par yeh
Bhoot bada hi pyaara hai
Chahat "Sakshi" and Karan "Arjun" twirled in perfect waltz and stood in a bent pose.
Offo! Isey.. isey daant ke bhagaaun
Offo! Ya.. ya seene se lagaaun
Offo! Isey.. isey daant ke bhagaaun
Offo! Ya.. ya seene se lagaaun
Sar pe bithaaun, ya thappad lagaaun
Offo O....
Sameer and Ayesha whistled for their kids while Arjun was noting down Karan's "friendship" with Chahat.
Dekho leke aaya hai
Pocket mein sharaaratein
Karan "Arjun" started slipping and falling wherever Chahat "Sakshi" played around.
Tere jaisi hai zara aa
Iski bhi aadatein
Mihika "Sakshi" came in a cream dress while Aamir "Arjun" close danced with her.
Arjun and Sakshi smiled softly as they remembered the dance where they kissed.
Upar se garam hai
Andar se naram hai
With that Aamir "Arjun" twirled Mihika "Sakshi" and pretended to kiss her while Mihika "Sakshi" feigned shock!
Thoda shareef bhi hai thoda
Thoda sa besharam hai
hai hai...
Sakshi rest her head on Arjun's shoulders as another memory played in...
Unaware of the gaping crowd and the fact that the music had stopped, Arjun pulled a red Sakshi towards him and threaded his fingers in her hair. Sakshi’s eyes watered at the tender caress and with his thumb he gently swept across her full lips. A gasp broke from Sakshi’s mouth as he tilted her face and shamelessly breathed in her exotic scent.
A rough groan escaped his throat as her lips parted and dried in anticipation. He bent and licked her waiting lips and indulged in a hard kiss. Sakshi was taken aback with this strong passion and held on to him as he sucked her lips; none too gently.
Offo! Isey.. isey daant ke bhagaaun
Offo! Ya.. ya seene se lagaaun
Offo! Isey.. isey daant ke bhagaaun
Uffo! Ya.. ya seene se lagaaun
Sar pe bithaaun, ya thappad lagaaun
Offo O....
Karan "Arjun" sighed as Chahat "Sakshi" pushed him and ran away.
Tujh bin suraj mein aag nahi re
Tujh bin koyal mein raag nahi re
Chaandaniya to barse
Phir kyun mere haath andhere lagde ne
Chahat "Sakshi" shook Karan "Arjun's" hands off her and ran while Karan "Arjun" sighed. Chahat "Sakshi" picked up a bag while Karan "Arjun" tried to understand things going on.
Haa tujh bin phaagun mein phaag nahi re
Haa tujh bin jaage bhi jaag nahi re
Tere bina.. o mahiya
Din dariya, rain jazeere lagde ne
The background changed to a station as Karan "Arjun" ran behind a train and Chahat "Sakshi" cried. Karan "Arjun" screamed I LOVE YOU but it went unheard.
Adhoori adhoori adhoori kahaani, adhoora alvida
Yunhi yunhi raina jaaye adhoore sadaa
Adhoori adhoori adhoori kahaani, adhoora alvida
Yunhi yunhi raina jaaye adhoore sadaa
Arjun tightened his grip on Sakshi's hands whose eyes had turned misty, he cupped her cheeks and wiped away the tears which came...
Arjun sat on the floor, shocked and then asked Shree to trace the call “VT Station.” Shree replied a few minutes later. Arjun ran towards the station to see that the train to Bangalore had started departing. Running like a mad man he ran behind the train.
Sakshi rest her head against the window railing to find Arjun running and screaming her name. A shocked Sakshi ran to the exit door and stared as Arjun kept on running “SAKSHI I LOVE YOU! PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME! SAKSHI YOU MEAN MY LIFE… SAKSHI… I LOVE YOU!” Arjun screamed as a teary Sakshi cupped her mouth in shock, the train proved to be too fast and she cried her heart out as Arjun’s figure became smaller and smaller and it disappeared.
And as Sakshi disappeared from his sight, Arjun crashed on the floor, tears rolling down his cheeks.
In another scene Aamir "Arjun" starts laughing and says "Apne jaan ko pane ke liye main kuch bhi kar sakta hoon, yeh baat samjhe ya... samjhaaun?" He winked while Sakshi burst into laughter while wiping her tears and Arjun grinned.
Hey Ya Heeriye Sehra Baandh Ke Main Toh Aaya Re
Hey Ya Doli Baarat Bhi Saath Mein Main Toh Laaya Re
Aamir "Arjun" puts the baby "Chau" in his bag and gears up while Arjun bursts into laughter. Aamir "Arjun" runs to the shop and buys the wedding dress...
Hey Ya Heeriye Sehra Baandh Ke Main Toh Aaya Re
Hey Ya Doli Baarat Bhi Saath Mein Main Toh Laaya Re
Aamir "Arjun" jumps like crazy and puts his aviators inside his shirt, he runs to the jeweller and takes the jewellery and does a jinga lala! Sakshi laughs like anything imagining Arjun to dance like this!
Ab Toh No Hota Hai Ek Roz Intezaar
Soni Aaj Nahi Toh Kal Hai Tujhko Toh Bas Meri Honi Re
Aamir "Arjun" puts his hands on his hips and stares at Bangalore in the map of India. He is so busy in showing style that an airport authority *Samaira* pushes him to get inside the plane while he hits his own head and nods.
Tenu Leke Main Javanga, Dil Deke Main Javanga
Aamir "Arjun" keeps on dancing throughout the journey to Bangalore while the hostess asks him to sit down continuously. Arjun turns red as Sakshi cries in laughter.
Tenu Leke Main Javanga, Dil Deke Main Javanga
Sakshi blushes as she knows what's coming
Uljhi si baatein dil
Mujhse bhi baantein
To mehar.. mehar.. meherbaniya
(Meher.. meher.. meherbaniya)
Chahat "Sakshi" tries to find out Arjun but sighs and walks to the bathroom...
Khud hi samajh ke mujhe samjha de
Chahat "Sakshi" rants in the air about Arjun and wipes off a tear.
To mehar.. mehar.. meherbaniya
(Meher.. meher.. meherbaniya)
Chahat "Sakshi" shrieks when she is pulled into the bathtub by Karan "Arjun" while Arjun and Sakshi are just gaping at the stage.
Ho meherbani jo dil de zubaani
Keh de wo jo na kabhi kaha hai
Side actors run with flowers to show that Chahat "Sakshi" and Karan "Arjun" are busy kissing each other... The duo blush and run away...
While the other pair, Mihika "Sakshi" and Aamir "Arjun" run in wearing wedding clothes, he swings her in his arms...
Aise Tera Main.. Jaise Mera Tu
The other juniors gather in throwing petals on them while an emotional Arjun and Sakshi clap in joy when Chahat and Arshi drag them on the stage...
Aise Tera Main.. Jaise Mera Tu..
Milte rahe jo aise hi dono
Sakshi blushes and keeps her palms on his chest as he wounds his arms around her waist.
Lag na jaaye ishq ki nazar
Aye dil farebi, tham sa gaya kyun
Aisi waisi baat soch kar
Bas mein na mere ab ye raha hai
Tujh pe aake dil ye jo ruka hai
Arjun kisses her forehead and smiles as he takes her palm and twirls her around...
Aise tera main.. jaise mera tu
The crowd whistles as Sakshi falls into his arms perfectly and he pecks her publicly like the first time.
Aise tera main.. Jaise mera tu
A red Sakshi hugs him tightly while their kids join the family hug.
Jaise Mera Tu..
All the other couples smile in contentment as Sameer and Ayesha hug their twins while Aamir and Mihika exchange shy glances, last but not the least.. Karan winks at Chahat who's hugging her Achi maa and baba.
Aye.. oo.. ee..
Na na.. yea..
(Mehar.. mehar.. meherbani ho)
And thus they lived, happily ever after...
~ THE END ~
I think I am reading this 40th time.. Still feeling the every emotions as it was felt at first..
ReplyDeleteSo cute..and lovely..
Arjun and sakshi ka transformation from stranger to lovers was unreal to believe.. And sameer Or ayesha ka relation was the real one.. But both were written so wonderfully..
Love your all d work..
Hope you continue