Arakshi Jatishwar (4)

CHAPTER IV

A sweet fragrance stirred Arjun out of his sleep, he parted his parched lips to touch something so soft. His eyelids fluttered open as he found himself pressing a kiss to Shaakhi’s neck. A dull ache in his head and hand reminded him of the previous twenty four hours. He shifted slightly to give her space. In spite of what the world had to say about men, Arjun found himself furiously blushing at their proximity and cleared his throat.

It was a wonderful sight to see a drowsy Sakshi rouse from her sleep. A lazy hand rubbed on her eyes and her pink lips parted just a little, sucking in a yawn. Tendrils of her hair flew haywire, her eyes were tiny and lips were pouty with sleep.

Then and there Arjun knew that this was the sight he wanted to be met with, every single morning.

Her pupils dilated as she fixed her eyes with his. “Kamon acho?” (How are you?) She whispered and tucked an arm under his head, helping him sit up.

“Bhalo kikore na hote pari.” (How can I not be well?) A gorgeous smile lit his face. Despite the dried blood and dark circles beneath his eyes, he was exquisite!  Shaakhi turned blush pink at the appreciation and her cheeks flamed as he cupped her left cheek slightly.

Just as he opened his mouth to say something “Arjun! Shaakhi! Jege ja… Hugli pouche geichi!” (Arjun! Sakshi! Get up! We’ve reach Hugli!) Sameer smiled and waited for a moment.

“Accha Shomi da, chotu koi?” (Sameer, where’s my brother?) Shaakhi asked from inside. “O Robi’r kache acche, du din e ekhane ashbe.” (He’s with Robi , within two days[ Hussain] shall be here.)

“Accha theek acche…” (Ok that’s great).

Shaakhi got up and adjusted her dress, she tied her hair in a loose bun and literally ran away while Arjun remained seated. Smiling to himself, he was greeted by a shocked Sameer.

“Dhonyo hok Maa Shaakhi Chamunda’r! Jei Arjun nije ke shudu korola’r moton mukh rakhar agnikara niye chilo… aajke toh hashi tar muk theke tip tip kore porche. Bol toh… aak raat e amon ki holo?” (Praise the goddess Shaakhi! The Arjun who swore to keep his mouth as bitter as bitter gourd seems to have no control of the happiness which is dripping off his face! What’s the matter… what did a night’s magic do?)

Sameer yelped as Arjun smacked him with his good arm “Tui o na!  Char… eta shon, ami biye korbo or shate.” (You! Anyways… listen, I will marry her) Arjun confessed, the shy smile returning on his face.

Sameer’s eyes rounded and he held his heart “Dada, kichu toh bokshish de amar hridhoy ke! Ak raat e tora amon ki korli je akhoni biye kortei hobe!” (Brother, please spare my poor heart! What happened in this one night that has forced you to marry her immediately?). Arjun frowned and stared at Sameer for a few minutes.

As realisation dawned on Arjun, the last thing Sameer remembered while running out of the carriage was Arjun yelling “SHOMI!” (SAMEER!) “Maa Chamunda… bachan amake.” (Oh Goddess… save me!) Sameer hid behind Sakshi while she saw a furious Arjun marching towards Sameer.

Arjun almost wanted to laugh seeing a much larger Sameer hide behind a petite Sakshi.

“Ki holo?”  (What happened?) Sakshi’s sweet voice deviated Arjun and his anger fizzled within a second. “Kichu na go…” (Nothing dear.) Arjun replied in an equally sweet manner while Sameer raised an eyebrow.

“O go…. ah haha… ami kichu boli toh tui Roktobeej hoi jaash! Tor o go kichu bole toh tui Kaam Deb hoi jaash!” (Dear? [mocking Arjun] That’s swell! I say something and you become a blood sucking monster! Your dear says something so you become the God of Love?) Sameer twirled his hips to enact Shaakhi.

“O go shuncho? Ei shob jodi hoi thake tahole ei jinish golo amader ghor e niye jabe?” (Dear, care to listen for a moment? If all this [sweet talking] is done then can you take these things to our home?) Sameer blew a kiss to Arjun. On one hand Shaakhi held her stomach and laughed while Arjun ran behind Sameer to smack him real hard.

~*~

“Uff…” Arjun groaned as Sameer dressed his bullet wound.

“O go, batha korche ki?” (Dear, is it paining?) Sameer winked at a flustered Arjun who broke into a smile in spite of the stinging pain. However  this time Arjun didn’t hit or curse Sameer as he realised that Sameer was trying to distract Arjun by role playing Shaakhi.

“Dada?  O theek acche na?” (Brother, is he [Arjun] fine?) Shaakhi yelled from the adjacent bathroom.

“Ke theek acche?” ( Who’s fine?) Sameer asked and smiled wickedly as he completed to apply the turmeric paste on the bullet wound.

“Arrey o!” (Him [Arjun!]!) Shaakhi yelled out “Haan kintu o ke? Eikhane tor Shomi da, mane ami, aar Arjun acche. O bole kyo nei.” (Yeah but who’s him? Out here there’s your Sameer [brother], that’s me, and Arjun. Who’s this him?) Arjun frowned affectionately at Sameer and chided him for teasing Shaakhi.

“O…” (Him…) Shaakhi shyly replied and chewed her bottom lip. Scrubbing herself clean, she pulled on a pair of fresh clothes bought by Arjun and dried her hair with a gamcha. She walked out of the 

bathroom and stared at Sameer.

“O! Dekhte parchona?” (HIM! Can’t you see?) Shaakhi twitched her nose angrily and pointed at a freshly bathed Arjun sitting on the cot, sporting a smirk.

“Accha o! Toh ei bapar, akhon naam deyo dakte parchishna?” (Oh him! I see, this is the matter! Now you can’t even call him with his name?) Sameer wriggled his eyebrows which made Shaakhi realise that she was being the butt of his jokes.

“Jao! Khide pet e thako!” (Off! Stay hungry today!) Shaakhi shot a glare at Sameer and was about to scowl further when he held her wrist. “Shomi da…” (Sameer [brother]) Her voice quietened as she realised Arjun held her wrist.

“Ja ja Radha Kishon! Ei boyesh e amake ei shob dekhte hobe!” ( Go there lovebirds! At this age I have to see all this!) Sameer grumbled and twitched Shaakhi’s ears before leaving the duo.

“Bosho.” (Sit here.) Shaakhi sat next to Arjun and checked the dressing

“Batha korche?” (Is it hurting?)

“Na.” (Nope) He smiled and tucked a wet tendril of hair behind her ear. Shaakhi melted into his hand as he cupped her cheek “Ei kotha kono rohoshyo na je ami tomake bhalobashi, kintu ami chai je tumi jane je Arjun ke.” (It isn’t a secret that I love you, but I want you to know who Arjun is.)

“Akta jinish bolte chai, tumi jai bolbe… ota teh amar bhalobasha teh kono parthokko ashbena.” (I just want to say one thing, no matter what you say… that won’t create a difference in my love.) Shaakhi smiled and inched closer to Arjun.

They spent the next few minutes with Arjun describing the Chaudhary zamindar  clan and the family’s ill timed death due to partition. That turned the pampered Arjun to the man he is today. His heart bled as he recollected the horrors of his past and breathed relief as Shaakhi placed her palm on his chest, her love radiating a a balm for his aching heart.

“Amar kache kichu nei Shaakhi. Na banarashi sharee, na topor,  na ak phuto goina … na kono boshano ghor. Tumi kono mamoni bapena na aakta baapi’r bhalobasha. Chaudhary’r boumaa  howa’s shukh pabea. Shonkshaar kokhon shamlano jabe shei shudu bhogobaan jane. Kichu nei Shaakhi shudu ei shorir chara. Tomake mone prane diye bhalobashi kintu bhalobasha ak jayega aar bastobiktya arek jaigai… buj cho?”  

( I have nothing with me Shaakhi. No Benarasi saree, no crown [for wedding], not an ounce of gold… neither any house. You won’t get the love of in-laws. What it is to be the daughter in law of the Chaudhary’s… sigh, you shall remain unbeknownst to them. Settling a married life is something that will remain on God’s mercy. I truly have nothing except this flesh and bones. It’s not that I don’t love you, I do… with every bit of my being… but love is on one side and reality is one other. Do you understand [ what I am trying to say ]?”

Arjun sighed as Shaakhi remained stoic faced. “Ami khabar banate jaachi, ektu chok bujhie nao.” (I’ll whip up something for lunch, don’t hesitate to doze for a few minutes.) He frowned and tugged at Shaakhi’s hand who gently pried her wrist from his fingers. As he noted her weakened stance he realised… she was hurt.

~*~

Chewing into the mustard fried Hilsa, Sameer alternated his gaze between a stone faced Shaakhi and an angry Arjun. Humming under his breath, he mixed the rice with butter and dal. Adding a sprinkle of salt to the little ball of buttered lentil rice he decided to be a little less selfish and sort out to the gloom between the lovers.

“Odhbhoot khabar! Bhaat, dal , ghee, noon aar ilish maacher bhaja! Monn ta tripti pei gelo! Annapurna aache tor haath e.” (This is one fine scrumptious meal! Rice, dal,  butter, salt and fried fish! What else can be closer to heaven? You are blessed by the Goddess of Nourishment!) Shaakhi and Arjun whipped their heads to an over enthusiastic Sameer who stuffed his mouth with a few morsels.

Shaakhi turned to find Arjun picking on his food. Great! Now he wouldn’t even touch what she made.

“Jodi kyo na khete chai toh ona ke bole din je khabarer opmaan na korte! Khabar banano te onek prem aar aador thake.” (If someone doesn’t want to eat his food then ask him not to insult it. One puts in a lot of love and affection while preparing food.)

Arjun glared at Shaakhi and turned to face Sameer

“Kaoke bole dao bacchar moton na hote. Jani ami jeta bolechi ota karor shunte na bhalo lage, kintu ami ki bhul jodi ami oke jigesha kori onno kichu bapare bhapte?” ( Tell someone to not be a child! I know I have asked someone to think of other possibilities than me, but is there anything wrong with being practical?)

“Oh… toh amar obhimaan korar kono odhikaar nei!” (Oh! So I don’t have the right to get hurt!)

Shaakhi snapped and turned around, brushing her tears she voiced out

“Jodi akta manush shob kichu kore or bhalobasha jatanor jonno… tar poriyo jodi  shei manush ta ei bhabe ki ado ami or shate khushi thakbo ki na, ei bapar e raag dhorena! Aar kikore jatai je ami shudu aar shudu manush take chai?” (If a person does everything to prove her love… in spite of which he thinks that she might not be happy with him, won’t it anger her! How else will I prove that I will be happy with him no matter what!) Shaakhi sniffed and wiped the corner of her eye with the edge of her stole.

They both were quiet as they realised that Sameer didn’t focus on what each was saying but was just licking his plate empty. A clearing of throat made Sameer look at the couple who was glaring at him.

“Shaakhi, shon… ei bapar nei toke Arjun e shate jhogra na… aador kore bola ochit chilo. Or jibon tor moton i koshto te bhora chilo. Tui jodi na bojhish… ke bujhbe bol toh? Aajke shubh jinish hote parte jodi ei oshanti ta na hoto."

(Shaakhi,  listen.. regarding this you really shouldn’t have fought with him… rather you should have alleviated his fears. Neither of your lives were a bed of roses, apart from you who can understand him? Today could have been a great had it not been for this fight!) Sameer bunched the leaf plate and looked at Arjun.

“Tui o kono kom na. Tui janish ei mei ta ki na ki koreche tor jonno,  tar poreo tor mone moddhe ei chit acche je or aar kichu chaibe. Tui toh erokom chilishna, tor ja icche tui ota niye nish… aakhon ei faltu kotha oi ak matro bhalo jinish ke kharaab kano korchish!” 

(You aren’t any less mister! You are perfectly aware of what extents this woman went for you… even after that you’re under this idiot thinking that she’ll want something from you. This wasn’t the Arjun I knew! He was the guy who just took what he wanted, since when did he start with his useless speeches to ruin the only perfect thing in his life?)

Sameer angrily tied the end of his dhoti tighter and stormed out while Shaakhi and Arjun looked at each other guiltily.

“Ami shudu tomake khush…”  ( I just want to see you happy)

“Tumi ki janona amar khushi tomar shate?!” (Don’t you know my happiness is with you?!)

“Ami toh tomake shajate chai… shara brahmaan’er goina dite chai…” (I want to make you as the most ethereal woman, I want to bestow every jewel in this universe to you…)

“Amar jonno toh tomar ador er goina toh shob kichu, jei din amake apnabe nijer mone kore… shei din amar kache puro jogot thakbe…” (Your love is the most priceless jewel for me, the day you accept me as a part of you… that day I’ll have the world at my feet.)

“Kintu…” (But…)

“Bole dao na je tumi biye korte chaona, je tomar bhoi lagche ei shaat pakha’r jibon niye. Bole dao je hoitoba tumi bujhe gecho je tumi amake bhalo basho…” (Why don’t you say that you don’t want to marry me!? That the concept of being bound in a matrimony is biting you! Say that probably you don’t love…)

“SHAAKHI!”

Arjun got up and grabbed her elbow “Ei shahush! Ami kikore tomake na bhalobashte pari! Jodi upore kono Bhogobaan acche, toh shei jane je ami shudu aar shudu tomake chai. Ei jibon er jonno na… saath jonom er jonno.” (How dare you! How can I not love you? If the Lord exists then he knows how much I want you. Not just for this life but for seven lives).

A thunder ripped the sky, acknowledging his wish.

Shaakhi sobbed quietly “Ami kikore jaanbo! Hotath kore tumi erokom kotha bolchele… ami bhoi ki pete parina?” (How could I know? Suddenly you started with this weird discussion… am I not allowed to get scared?)

Kissing her forehead he drew Shaakhi into a close embrace “Na, joto din ami acchi… toto din bhoi tomake chute parbe na.” (No… as long as I am there… fear won’t be able to touch you).

With a deep sigh of relief Shaakhi clutched Arjun tighter and held him with a death like grip. “O go, khoma kore debe amake?” (Sweetheart, please forgive me.) He frowned as Shaakhi mumbled no in his chest. She pulled back and wiped the remnants of tears “Kichu khaoni, jotto khon na khabar khei nao aar ghumie poro… totto khon ami khoma korbona tomake.” ([You] haven’t eaten. anything. Unless something goes down into your stomach, don’t expect me to forgive you.)

Arjun pressed a tender kiss to her lips and whispered “Biye koro amar shate…” (Marry me)

“Aage theke korte chai chilam.” (Always wanted to do so…)

“Ki korichi ami tomake pawar jonno?” (What have I done to get you?)

“Amake dourate je daoni…” (You didn’t let me run away) Shaakhi replied cheekily while Arjun chuckled.

“Shuno… khai debe?” (Listen… will you feed me?) A warm fuzzy feeling in Shaakhi’s heart coupled with dull crimson painted across her cheeks made her look all the more lovely. Half expecting her to turn down his request he turned behind only to find her tucking a kerchief under his chin and signalling him to sit beside her.

He watched with deep interested as she gently poured the butter over rice and broke the juicy meat of the fish, carefully separating the tiny bones. His mouth watered as she added dal and sprinkled a bit of salt, she balled a morsel into her palm and raised it near his mouth.

His eyes closed as the spice and heavenly taste of delicious chola dal and the fried mustard ilish tantalised his taste buds. It had been so long…

Since he had a proper meal.

Tears welled up in his eyes as she lovingly fed him with the care of a mother.

Shaakhi stopped when she saw hot tears dripping down his cheeks… she needn’t have to be told what he was thinking about. He kissed her hand and shook as he tried to reign control over his haphazard emotions.

After having fed him well enough, rather till she was satisfied that he had tucked in enough food, she turned to continue eating from her plate.

It hadn’t missed Arjun’s notice that she didn’t pause to wash her hand before she starting eating. After swallowing the first morsel she noticed Arjun’s heartwarming gaze on her.

Then it hit her that she didn’t wash her hand.

A gesture so insignificant yet so intimate.

~*~

“Ulu ulu ulu ulu…”  A loud shrill of women rang in the air as Shaakhi clutched on to the betel leaves, covering her face.

She wobbled dangerously on the wooden pedestal which Sameer and a few friends held to carry her around her groom.

It was just the day before since it was decided that Shaakhi would be wed, finally the only dream which came true.

Sameer cleverly placed a hand aligned with her back so as to she didn’t slip. A soft giggle escaped her lips as a tensed Sameer fidgeted between fixing his dhoti and carrying Sakshi around the groom.

Finally they stopped and Shaakhi caught the leaves in a vice grip. “Chol! Muk dakha!” (Come on! Show your face!) Sameer smiled brightly at a nervous Shaakhi.

The jasmine bangle slid down to her arm as she held the leaves properly, her heart hammered against her chest and with a quick breath she parted the leaves.

And saw the love of her life smiling back at her, his eyes shining with unparalleled affection.

That’s when Sakshi realised…

She would cease to exist without Arjun.

A/N : Yes... I know I might have disappointed all those who expected to see some fireworks or fights or disturbance... but then let's say it's the calm before the storm, don't you think these two need a few sweet moments together? Okies, leaving the wonderful part in waiting for your comments <3