Recap – The carefree dance of her hair strands on her cheeks always felt like a show he could forever watch. As he let his finger brush against her cheeks, making her flinch right away, he asked, “Why care so much? Don’t you always say I am your enemy?”
| Part Two
The fleeting intimate moments directed by fate had almost disappeared from their life ever since Abhay came to India. It had been a while since she was that close to her husband last.
She couldn’t resist lifting her eyes to his face which looked unusually handsome that night.
She leaned closer, placing her palm on his shoulder as she whispered, “It is precisely because you’re my enemy, Khadoos! Tu upset aslaas ki vyvasthit bhaandat nahis and I need my daily dose of it. I’m only thinking about myself.” She patted his shoulder, giving him a slyly sweet smile while trying to escape the sexual tension. “Also, I hate it when someone or something else bothers you. It’s my exclusive right. Why I must settle scores with Netra Tai and warn her well for once and all!”
“Ae bai! Please nako! ” He quickly joined his palms in front of her. “Already waadyaat enough tension aahe. Mala ajun nakoy.”
“That reminds me… you haven’t told me who Avantika is yet. Jevha pasun ticha naav nighalay, wadyaat saglech khup upset aahe. Koni kahi bolat nahiye but I can feel it.”
“I’ve already told you… don’t ask me the questions that I can’t answer,” he said, his eyes fixated on the floor before he returned to his place.
Why doesn’t anyone tell me anything? Am I not a member of this family? She knew she had to let it be for then but it could only be temporary. She needed to find out the whole Avantika matter but not now. Looking at his unsettled eyes made her regret mentioning that topic.
“Just grab a book you want to read,” she said, stretching her hands out, “I’ll see which song to play next.”
“Wachat tar mi khaali hi hotoch ki! Kay farak aahe jar ithehi tech karaycha aahe,” he muttered, visibly annoyed.
He was beginning to enjoy his wife’s undivided attention but now, he was supposed to… read? Sure, he loved his books but the atmosphere was too sweet for him to stare at anything but his wife who had created it.
“Aa? You don’t wanna read?” she asked, guessing it from his expressions. “I thought you liked books.”
“Sure, I do but there are other things that like too!”
She sat captivated under his unwavering gaze. He couldn’t be talking about me, could he? Don’t be delusional, Apurva Vartak Kanitkar. He said things. Are you a thing?
She hummed as she started picking up the books one by one only to have him place his hand over hers, stopping her midway. “You took quite some effort in bringing these here. Chal ek kaam karu. Mi tuza abhyaas gheto. Nahitari-”
“NAKO!” She sharply cut him off before giving him a cheeky smile. “Tuza already mood off aahe ki nahi? Tu maza abhyas gheshil. Mala answers yenar nahi mag tu ajun chidshil mag maze he itke efforts waste nahi ka jaatil? Mhanun… NAKO! Tu sod na. Tula nahi wachaycha tar aapan dusra kahitari karu. Ideas chi kay kami aahe ka tuzya baykojaval?”
He chuckled to himself, hearing her blabbering anything and everything that came to her mouth just to escape studying.
“Tya Abhay sobat abhyaas karayla bari maja yete tula!” he taunted. Oh, how passionately he despised their study sessions!
“Abhya tuzyasarkha strict thodich aahe!” she muttered. Tasahi tuzyajaval vel kuthe aahe mala shikvayla! He had been unusually busy the past several weeks. Why it was surprising to her when he started coming home early after she fell sick!
She had said it for the sake of saying that there were enough people in the Wada to take care of her and he didn’t have to do anything but how could she deny that being taken care of by him felt beautiful?
Even his scolding had sounded nothing but sweet to her.
Apurva, tu kay lahaan aahes ka aaushadhi kadu aahe mhanayla?
Mi tula saangitla hota na joparyant tuzi tabyet bari hot nahi toparyant aaram kar mhann? Gharbhar udya kay maarat firteyes tu!
Ice cream? Doka firlay tuza? Milnaar nahi!
She wouldn’t forget how he still held her to himself every night despite her body burning with the fever. Despite her trying to push him away every now and then. He didn’t seem as afraid of catching her infection as she was.
“Oh!” That was all that he said. So she doesn’t like me teaching her!
She was almost done keeping the books aside by then. “Tu saang aapan kay karaycha! Aapan te karu!”
“Mala kahich nahi karaycha aahe!” he said, still stuck on the fact that she preferred Abhay over him.
C’mon! How petty could this guy be! Wasn’t he fine just now? She sighed, looking at him.
What did she mean by he is not strict like me? So what if I am strict? Isn’t it for her own good? He sat there, folding his hands across his chest, his eyes fixed on nothing in particular on the table.
Why am I even here? Just as he was about to get up, a book was pushed toward him on the table. Introductory Microeconomics. Surprised, he looked up to find her hitting her forehead with her fist.
“Fine! Since my only intention for tonight is to cheer you up, I’ll do whatever it takes!” Just tonight! She silently comforted herself.
Within seconds, his frown was replaced by a smile that soon turned into a smirk. He leaned on the table as he asked, “Apurva Vartak befriending books sounds so abnormal and as if it is not strange enough, she does it for the man she claims to hate… how do you want me to digest this, hmm?”
Gosh. His tone was so annoying. Did he have to be that explicit with his words? Swallowing her irritation, she pressed her lips together to force a smile. ‘’Where did I give you the impression that I give a damn whether you can digest it or not?”
Moreover, who hates you?
He chuckled. Couldn’t they spend their entire life just bickering day and night? Like his Dada and Mai!
Opposites attract. He had finally come to accept it.
He caught her making a crying face while looking at the book as if regretting bringing it there in the first place. Shaking his head, he picked it up and kept it behind him, out of her sight. “Since you’re being so generous today, I cannot really be heartless. Let’s talk about your studies later.”
She banged her fist on her forehead for yet another time. They said moody. I heard Khadoos. Wasn’t he just upset because I denied studying and now that I gave in, he doesn’t want to?
Does he want to drive me crazy and leave me in a mental asylum to get rid of me? But why does he have to go to such extremes? I’m ready to divorce him whenever he wants, ain’t I?
The sudden thought froze her for a brief moment as she recalled the marriage contract she herself had drafted.
Back then what felt like a cage had become the garden she didn’t have the heart to leave. She had no idea about when and how it happened but it had happened. There was no denial there.
Am I really ready to divorce him?
“What are you thinking?” he asked, snapping his fingers in front of her. “With this expression of yours, you’re not thinking about that best friend of yours, are you?”
“ABHAY. A B H A Y. He has a name. How many times have I told you?” She confronted him with an I am so done with you look. “Abhay is literally so sweet. What exactly is your problem with him?”
“You’ve already found my replacement and dare to ask me what’s my problem with him,” he muttered.
“If you don’t have the guts to say it out loud, keep your mouth shut,” she said, taking a sip of the water.
“Do you want to dance?”
Not even in her wildest dream, she had imagined him asking her that question. Her eyes went to him and found him intently staring at the moon.
“Are you asking me?” she asked, pointing toward herself.
“Ithe tuzyashivaay ajun koni aahe?” Apurva and silly questions went hand in hand, he concluded for yet another time. “I just want to take my mind off something.” I want to hold you to myself and forget about everyone else.
“I’d never say no to a dance no matter who my dance partner is,” she said while getting up.
“I’m borrowing your phone. I didn’t bring mine,” he said, reaching out for her phone after her nod.
Her music player application was already open.
Cheer up, Khadoos. Reading her playlist’s name made him smile and that smile kept widening as he looked at the songs in that playlist one by one. Apurva surely had taken quite some effort to get to know his taste in music, he could tell because there were several songs in there that she could have never been able to guess on her own.
His fingers stilled on a song before hitting the play button and he was on his feet right after that.
He extended his hand in front of her and couldn’t help but remember the first time he had done that.
Valentine’s Day! The day he had to defend himself against the title of being unromantic that had been forced on him.
Shukratara mand wara, chaandne panyatuni!
She let her hand slip into his, letting him effortlessly draw her closer as the music fell into her ears.
Chandra aahe, swapna waahe, dhunda ya ganyatuni!
Unlike the previous times when they had danced together, he seemed to have kept every restriction aside with his hands snaking around her waist after putting hers around his neck.
Despite being caught off-guard by the sudden intimacy that she hadn’t expected, she followed his steps instinctively as if he was an expert and she, his student.
Completely opposite of how it had been in the past.
Aaj tu dolyaat mazya,
Aaj tu dolyaat mazyaa…
They moved as one, their steps as calm and slow as the song they were dancing to.
He had heard so much about how time stands still when you’re in the embrace of the person you love from his friend who had done a PhD in love despite being single for years and he had always found it annoyingly stupid.
How could you lose yourself in the moment to the extent of standing indifferent to the world around you?
But that night, he could see how.
He was forgetting everything. He might never be able to explain how but the only thing his mind and heart held at that moment was the woman his hands were holding. His wife who he had fallen irrevocably in love with.
Misluni dole paha, tu ashi javli raha!
His gaze locked onto hers, not masking the longing in his eyes. Leaning closer, he whispered to her, “I heard you saying no to Abhay when he asked you for a dance last week at Dr. Anjali’s birthday party.”
Dedicated to Sania. I just got to know it’s her birthday today. Whatever little interactions we’ve had so far have been lovely. You were one of the few people that were into TR despite the language barrier and I’ve said it so many times that I find it incredible. I sincerely appreciate you being around. Keep being your wonderful, unique self and never stop chasing your dreams. <3
A very happy birthday!
Much love. <3
To be continued… <3
Coming back to TR after a long long time. You are at your best as always. I am still not sure whether I like TR more or your writing!
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